GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Ben Schoeneberger (Vernon, Conn.) scored a pair of power-play goals to lead the fifth-ranked Castleton State College Spartans to a 4-1 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in an ECAC Men's East game Friday night at the USM Ice Arena.

            The win was the second straight for the Spartans and gave them a sweep of the season series with the Huskies.  The Spartans improved to 13-3-0 overall and 8-1-0 in ECAC play to share first place in the standings with Norwich University.  The Huskies lost for just the second time in their last 10 games, slipping to 5-6-4 overall and 3-4-2 in the league.

            Schoeneberger scored the lone goal of the first period when his shot from the blue line through a screen eluded USM sophomore goalie Braely Torris (Eckville, Alberta).  Schoeneberger tallied what proved to be the game-winning goal at 13:20 of the second period when his shot from the blue line deflected in off a USM defender's stick.

            Sophomore Nick Lazorko (Rockwall, Texas) made it 3-0 with just four ticks left on the clock in the second period potting a 25-foot wrist shot through a maze of players.

            Southern Maine tried to make a comeback in the third period scoring in the opening minute.  Rookie Ben Pearl (Essex Jct., Vt.) scored his fifth goal of the season on a shot from low in the left wing circle.  Sophomore Jamie Osborne (Grand Lake, N.S.) and junior Davis Nies (Brookline, Mass.) picked up the assists.

            Lazorko tallied his second of the night midway through the final period to restore the Spartans three-goal edge.

            Juniors Justin Alonzo (San Jose, Calif.), Dan Bell (Victoria, B.C.) and Josh Harris (Torrance, Calif.) each earned two assists in the game for the Spartans.

            Castleton State finished the game with a 35-21 advantage in shots on goal.  Torris finished with 31 saves.  His Castleton State counterpart, sophomore Erick Cinotti (Mahwah, N.J.) stopped 20 shots.

            Southern Maine returns to the ice on Saturday (4:00 p.m.) hosting Skidmore College in an ECAC Men's East game.  Castleton State journeys to the University of New England on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).

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