RUTLAND, Vt. (Saturday, December 7, 2024)-- Salve Regina University's Jack Franklin scored his first collegiate goal against Vermont State University Castleton in NEHC action on Saturday afternoon, however the Spartans established 4-1 lead after the second period and held on for a 5-3 final. 

Castleton celebrated the 20th anniversary of Spartan Arena's grand opening at the game after the venue opened in December of 2004. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: VTSU Castleton 5, Salve Regina 3
Records: Salve Regina (5-4-1, 4-4-0 NEHC), VTSU Castleton (3-9-1, 1-7-0 NEHC)
History: Yesterday's 3-2 victory was the first meeting of the Seahawks and Spartans since a 3-0 loss on January 3, 2015. 

NOTEWORTHY:

• Unlike yesterday's game where the scoring didn't start until the second period, the hosting Spartans' Emmett McHardy netted the first goal of the night with just 8:35 gone from the score board. Jack Franklin struck back with his first goal in the Seahawk uniform at the 15:13 mark. In a stealthy move Franklin wrapped around the back of the Spartans net and slid the puck in the goal, past Castleton's Josh Ward. After one period Salve Regina outshot Castleton 16-8 and beat the Spartans 12-9 in the circle. 
• Castleton broke away in period two when McHardy achieved a hat trick with bookend goals of Trevor Castino's success to put Castleton ahead 4-1. The Seahawks went on the power play towards the end of period two after Romeo Torain was sent to the box for tripping however it wasn't quite enough for the team from Newport to gain the momentum to score. 
• After ten scoreless minutes to begin the third period Logan Calder tapped it in from right in front of the net when a slap shot from Teddie Hember was deflected by Ward. Calder's fifth goal of the season made it a 4-2 game. At the 17:02 mark goalie Cayden Bailey left the ice, giving the Seahawks a six on five skater advantage but with a shot from far beyond the left face off circle Luke Chakrabarti made it to the net to extend the Spartan's lead to 5-2. However, the game wasn't over yet and Matthew Brunton scored his second goal in two days against the Spartans with a short-side back-handed goal at the 19:47 mark to make it 5-3. Castleton's first line of Luke Chakrabarti, Emmett McHardy and Andrew Stefura accounted for four of the Spartan's five goals this evening. With tonight's win, the Spartains achieved their first NEHC victory of the season. 

ON THE HORIZON
In their last contest before the semester ends men's ice hockey will host Wentworth Institute of Technology at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, at the Cabot-Harman Ice Center.