RUTLAND, Vt. -- Rookie goalie Paula Stephens (Seattle, Wash.) stopped all 25 shots she faced as the Castleton State College Spartans shut out the University of Southern Maine Huskies, 3-0, in an ECAC Women's East game Friday afternoon at Spartan Arena.

            The win extended the Spartans' unbeaten streak to three games (2-0-1) and improved their record to 8-12-1 overall and 7-7-1 in the league.  The Spartans swept the season series against the Huskies.  The eight wins are a program record for the Spartans.  The Huskies suffered their third loss in the last four games to drop to 6-12-4 overall and 6-7-2 in league play.

            Stephens coasted through the first period facing only two shots.  The first-year goaltender protected the Spartans lead over the final two period facing 23 shots.  The shutout was her second straight, and extended her string of scoreless minutes to 125 minutes.

            Sophomore Stephanie Bardell (Erwinna, Pa.) put the home side on top early knocking home the rebound of a shot by rookie Jessica Spidle (Smithtown, N.Y.) for her second goal of the season at 2:52.  Junior Danielle Roberts (St. Albans, Vt.) picked up the second assist.

            Just over five minutes later, Spidle doubled the Spartans advantage collecting the rebound of junior Nicole Ruman's (Riverside, Calif.) shot and deposited a shot behind USM rookie goalie Nikki Lauziere (Milton, Vt.).  Roberts picked up her second assist on the play.

            Junior Jade Werger (Maple Ridge, B.C.) scored her team-leading 12th goal of the season at 7:18 of the second period, set up by sophomore Molly Howard (Brandon, Manitoba) and senior Meagan Hulbert (Barre, Vt.), to make it 3-0 and drive Lauziere from the game.

            Freshman Liz Bergstrom (Chanhassen, Minn.) came on for the Huskies and registered 12 saves over the final 32:48.  Lauziere made 11 stops before being lifted.

            Southern Maine seeks to rebound on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) when it travels to New England College.  Castleton looks to extend its unbeaten streak when it hosts Plymouth State University on Saturday (12:00 p.m.).

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