EAST BOSTON – Suffolk women's hockey fell in its home opener, 3-1, to Castleton Saturday night at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Rink. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 1 | Castleton 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-3-0, 1-1-0 NEHC) | Castleton (2-2-0, 2-0-0 NEHC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk found itself in trouble at the midway point as Emily Johnston was whistled for cross checking and 1:29 later Madison Duff joined her classmate in the pen for interference to give the Spartans a two-man advantage. The Rams skated off both penalties and zeros remained on the board after the first 20 minutes. 

The blue-and-gold's perfect penalty kill did not carry into the middle stanza, however, as it faced another 5-on-3 situation with a minor and major called against the hosts. Suffolk killed the minor, but the Spartans struck twice on the major in a 1:30 span to grab a two-goal lead.

Sophia Vingi punched through the board at the 8:01 minute mark with help from Kathrine Campoli and Samantha Munroe, while Casey Traill was responsible for the second strike with set-up from Munroe. 

Suffolk look to capitalize on its own powerplay late in the second period. Alexis Kalm had other things in mind though as Castleton's netminder stopped five Rams' shots over the final 10 minutes to send her team into the second intermission with a two-goal cushion.  

Shana Cote had the crowd in East Boston cheer as the sophomore gave the Rams a new life with her third goal of the season that sliced the deficit in half at the midway point of the final period of regulation. Maddy Burton assisted on the marker that turned it into a 2-1 Castleton contest with just over 10 minutes left on the board. 

As time dwindled down, Taylor Wasylk called her team over to talk strategy with 3:26 to go. The Rams maintained momentum, but each one of their chips at the netting was either scooped up or turned aside by the Spartans.  

In a last-ditch effort, Julia McLellan was pulled from the Rams net with 1:41 to play. Suffolk continued to pepper Kalm and Spartans defense stood tall for the keeper, blocking four of the blue-and-gold's five attempts, with the other falling in Kalms's glove to keep the Rams off the board. 

With four seconds left, Courtney Gauthier slid an empty netter to add insurance and seal the deal for the Spartans.  

NETMINDER NOTES

• McLellan had 18 stops in net for Suffolk. 
• Kalm registered 38 saves for the victory.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Cote was responsible for Suffolk's score while Burton tallied the Rams only assist. 
• Suffolk outshot the Spartans, 39-21. 
• Castleton won the battle in the face-off dot, 33-26.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk entertains Castleton in its home opener for the first time in program history. 
• Cote extended her point streak to three straight. Over that stretch she has produced two goals and two helpers. 
• Burton has recorded points in back-to-back games.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

COMING UP
Suffolk spends next weekend on the road and is set to visit Salem State Friday, Nov. 15 for a 6 p.m. clash.