SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team yielded only a pair of power-play markers and an empty-net goal in losing to Castleton State College, 3-0, during Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East action at Cairns Arena on Friday. The Purple Knights fall to 2-18-3 overall and 1-12-2 in the league, while the Spartans move to 14-8-2 and 9-4-2.

First-year goalie Abby Burke (Bedford, Mass./Assabet Valley Patriots) made 41 saves for her sixth performance of 30 saves or greater, while Saint Michael's senior Macey Thomas (Amherst, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon) skated in her 100th game as a Purple Knight. She is among only nine players in program history to reach the century mark.

Castleton State junior Brie Narodowy (North Smithfield, R.I./Mount Saint Charles Academy) tallied a pair of power-play goals and first-year Lisa Kilroy (Leominster, Mass./Lady Flames) scored an empty-net goal. Sophomores Rachel Bombardier (Pittsford, Vt./Saint Paul's School) and Taylor Steadman (Hartford, Vt./Elmira) both registered two assists. Junior Paula Stephens (Seattle, Wash./Okanagan Hockey Academy) stopped 20 shots for her third shutout this season.

The Spartans hopped on the scoreboard first when Narodowy picked the upper left corner 6:14 into the contest after collecting a loose puck sitting in the slot during a power-play opportunity. Castleton State outshot Saint Michael's, 15-8, in the first period, with junior Fernanda Saavedra (Miami, Fla./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) providing consecutive scoring chances while the Purple Knights were on the penalty kill during the closing minutes.

Narodowy extended the lead to 2-0 when she batted the puck inside the left post off a redirected shot during the power play at 5:27 of the second stanza. With 8:22 left, first-year Kim Gosselin (Concord, N.H./Proctor) had a chance to give the Spartans a three-goal lead with an open net, but Burke dove across the crease to snag the puck.

In the third period, Spartan junior Molly Howard (Shelburne, Vt./Champlain Valley Union) picked off a pass deep in her offensive zone and fired a point-blank shot that Burke stopped. Saint Michael's could not solve Stephens, who made three-straight stops after Burke was pulled with 1:15 to go in the game. With the vacant net, Kilroy sealed the win after she let loose a shot from the neutral zone that bounced off a Purple and Gold defender's stick and in for the score.

The Purple Knights close out their regular season tomorrow with a Senior Day contest versus New England College at 1 p.m.

by Student Intern Eric Gissendanner