Spartans Clip Vikings in Overtime

RUTLAND, Vt. -- In her final regular-season home game, Nicolle Trivino tallied the overtime game-winning goal as the Castleton University women's ice hockey team earned a 2-1 victory over Salem State Saturday afternoon at Spartan Arena. With the win today, the Spartans officially wrapped up the No. 2 seed for the upcoming New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) playoffs.

Before the game began, the Spartans (13-9-3, 10-4-2 NEHC) honored its six senior members as Trivino, Alexis Kalm, Maeghan Vasile, Samantha Munroe, Erin Smith, and Sophia Vingi stepped onto the ice for the last regular-season home game of their careers. 

With emotions running high, the game remained scoreless through one period of action. The Spartans' defense held the Vikings (3-19-2, 2-13-1 NEHC) in check the entire period while Kalm collected five saves. Goaltender Dana Smullen held her ground as well and stopped all 10 shots she faced in the first period.

The Spartans broke the deadlock and opened up the scoring at the 3:47 mark of the second period. While on the power play, Smith collected the puck and raced down the far boards. She threw a pass to Trivino whose initial shot from the blue line was deflected in front of the Viking's goal, and Darby Palisi skated in to push in the rebound. Palisi, who has scored four goals in the past five games, scored her seventh goal of the season to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead heading into the final period of play.

The Vikings refused to back down as the team tied the game at one at the 9:38 mark of the third period. While on the power play, Isabella Perotti sent an initial shot from the blue line straight at Kalm. As Kalm fumbled the puck in front of goal, Abby Stafford skated in across the face and tapped in the rebound.

As the game remained tied throughout the rest of the period, the two-faced off in a five-minute overtime period. At the 1:37 mark of the period, Brooke Greenwood forced a turnover and sent a pass in front of Trivino which she buried past Smullen to give the Spartans the 2-1 win.

Kalm earned the win in goal as she collected 38 saves. Smullen stopped 28 shots for Salem State.