RUTLAND, Vt. -- Senior Patrick Magliano (Pelham, N.H.) and rookie Michael Taormina (Plymouth, Mass.) each scored two goals as the University of Southern Maine Huskies earned their first win of the season by defeating the Castleton University Spartans, 4-3, in a New England Hockey Conference men's game Friday night at Spartan Arena.

            The Huskies' first win of the season improved their record to 1-3-1 overall and in NEHC play.  The Spartans dropped to 2-4-0 overall and 1-4-0 in conference play.

            Taormina and Magliano scored goals less than four minutes apart midway through the third period to snap a 2-2 tie and give the Huskies a 4-2 lead.  Taormina snapped the tie with his second goal of the season, set up by junior Tyler Mathieu (Stillwater Lake, N.S.), at 10:16.  Magliano tallied his second goal of the game, and third of the season, after an assist from junior Parker Sanderson (Bangor, Maine) at 14:09.

            Just over a minute later, Castleton sophomore Mark Shroyer (Fresno, Calif.) netted his second goal of the game, and third of the season, to pull the Spartans back within one.  The Spartans were unable to get an equalizer over the final four minutes.

            Taormina's first collegiate goal, coming on the power play at 9:00 of the first period, gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.  Sophomore Brendan Murphy (St. Peters, Mo.) and Sanderson earned the assists.

            Sophomore Jacob Erwin (Port Dover, Ontario) equalized for the Spartans with a power-play goal at 17:23.  Castleton piled up an 11-3 edge in shots on goal during the period, but USM rookie goalie Anthony D'Aloisio (Frisco, Texas) made 10 saves.

            Magliano's power-play goal in the latter stages of the second period restored the lead to the Huskies.  Murphy and Taormina picked up the assists on the play.  USM rolled up an 18-1 advantage in shots on goal during the second period, but CU junior goalie Wyatt Pickrell (Newmarket, Ontario) kept the home side in the game making 17 saves.

            Shroyer tied the game 2-2 with a power-play goal at 5:50 of the third period, assisted by sophomore Troy Taylor (Mississauga, Ontario) and senior Ryan O'Toole (Ogdensburg, N.Y.).

            D'Aloisio earned his first win in goal registering 20 saves.  Pickrell stopped 26 shots before being lifted for the extra attacker in the final minute.  USM went 2 for 5 on the power play while CU converted on 2 of 4 chances.

            Southern Maine travels to Northfield, Vt., on Saturday (4:00 p.m.) to take on nationally-ranked Norwich University.  Castleton will host New England College on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).

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