RUTLAND, VT. - After taking a 1-0 lead just nine seconds into the game, the Manhattanville women's hockey team fell to the Castleton State Spartans by a final score of 3-1 on Saturday in the consolation game of the 2015 Rutland Herald Invitational. Leading the way for Castleton State was forward Brianna Keats who assisted on the game-tying goal and scored a power-play goal in the 2nd period, giving the Spartans a 3-1 lead they would not relinquish.

Things could not have gotten off to a better start for the Valiants as senior forward Alla Traun (Edina, Minn./Minnesota Thoroughbreds (JWHL)) scored her second goal of the tournament directly off the opening face off. The Valiants would control the lead until the latter part of the first period when, with just 4:05 remaining, Rachel Bombardier scored her third goal of the season to tie the game at one.

The Spartans would take the lead a little over two minutes later as freshman Hannah Rose scored her first collegiate goal, beating senior goaltender Kirsten Shaughnessy (Le Center, Minn./LeSueur-Henderson St. Peter) for a 2-1 lead. Castleton State added a power-play tally from Keats in the second period for the two-goal lead.

After a rough outing against the Crusaders last night, Shaughnessy was back to her usual form, turning away 32 of the 35 shots she faced. Equally as impressive was Castleton goaltender Paula Stephens, who stopped all but one of the 35 shots that came her way.

There were 13 man-advantage opportunities throughout the game, Castleton went 1-for-8 on those opportunities while the Valiants were 0-for-5.

The team has six days off before facing the University of Southern Maine next Friday at 4:00 PM.