RUTLAND, Vt. – Senior Madison Chagnon (St. Albans, Vt./Rice Memorial) scored the game-tying goal for the University of Southern Maine Huskies in the team's New England Hockey Conference opener against the Vermont State University Castleton Spartans. The teams competed in a shootout following the end of the overtime period and the Huskies prevailed 3-2. The shootout win will serve as a tiebreaker in the conference standings.
 
Castleton's goal was scored by Moa Carlsson with an assist by Mikayla Brightman. Both goaltenders played well with fifth year senior Haley McKim (Moncton, New Brunswick/Mount Academy) making 34 saves for the Huskies and Victoria Bakopanos stopping 24 shots for the Spartans.
 
The Records:
Southern Maine: 1-1-0 (0-0-1 NEHC)
VTSU Castleton: 1-0-1 (0-0-1 NEHC)
 
Series History:
Tonight's game was the 40th meeting between the two programs. Castleton leads the series 22-13-5. The teams split the series last season with the road team winning each game.
 
The Goaltenders:
Southern Maine: Haley McKim (1-1-1): 64:51, one goal allowed, 34 saves
VTSU Castleton: Casey Moritz (1-0-0): 64:53, one goal allowed, 24 saves
 
How It Happened:

• Castleton struck first when Carlsson made a move around a Southern Maine defender and beat McKim high 12:01 into the first period. Brightman had the assist after dumping the puck out of the Huskies' offensive zone.
• Chagnon tied the game at 1-1 6:26 into the second period by collecting a loose puck and firing a shot under the cross bar for her second goal of the season.
• The team's played a scoreless third period and each goaltender made at least 10 saves. McKim had 12 and Bakopanos made 10. The Huskies had just 11 shots on goal entering the period and nearly doubled their total in the third. Bakopanos made four stops in overtime and McKim made two. Despite three peanlties being called in the period neither team scored.
• Southern Maine won the shootout 3-2 thanks to goals by freshman Josie Arrants (Rock Springs, Wy./Lovell Academy), senior Ally Stymiest (Moncton, New Brunswick/Mount Academy) and junior Olivia Stewart (Fredericton, New Brunswick/Mount Academy).

 
Inside The Stats:

• The Huskies killed four penalties, and the Spartans killed three as neither team scored on the power play.
• VTSU Castleton led 35-25 in shots on goal 36-14 and led 44-26 in faceoff wins.
• Stewart and Senior Amelie St-Amant (Ottawa, Ontario/ Ontario Hockey Academy) each blocked two shots.
• Chagnon has now scored 45 career goals and is tied with Kailey Bubier (2009-2013) for the third-most in program history.

 
Shootout Results:
USM:Goal - #15 Olivia Stewart               VTSU: No Goal - #8 Caris Erickson
USM:No Goal - #17 Grace Inoue            VTSU: No Goal - #19 Taylor Adams
USM: Goal - #21 Ally Stymiest               VTSU: Goal - #10 Moa Carlsson
USM: No Goal - #10 Jillian Jackson        VTSU: No Goal - #4 Meg Aiken
USM: No Goal - #14 Madison Chagnon VTSU: Goal - #21 Ellie Schliebener
USM: Goal - #19 Josie Arrants               VTSU: No Goal - #7 Alex Johnson
 
Up Next:
The teams play again tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 pm.