RUTLAND, Vt. – Freshman Charlotte Hughes (Mississauga, Ontario) had the second two-goal game of her freshman campaign for the University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's ice hockey team in a 6-4 loss to the Vermont State University Castleton Spartans on Saturday afternoon. Castleton's offense was led by a hat trick from Brooke Noble and four assists by Taylor Adams.
 
Graduate student Madison Chagnon (St. Albans, Vt./Rice Memorial) extended her goal streak to three games with her seventh tally of the year and took over the team lead in points with 11. Freshman Anna Elizarkov (Boothbay Harbor, Maine/Lovell Academy) also scored for the Huskies for the second game in a row.
 
Freshman Megan Gawley (Calgary, Alberta) made 23 for the Huskies, and Castleton's Kara Boassaly stopped 23 shots as well.
 
The Records:
Southern Maine: 8-9-1 (7-4-1)
VTSU Castleton: 9-10-0 (5-7-0)
 
Series History:
Despite Castleton's win today, Huskies won the season series 2-1. Castleton leads the all-time series 22-16-5.
 
The Goaltenders:
Southern Maine: Megan Gawley: (2-2-0), 59:10, six goals allowed, 23 saves
VTSU Castleton: Kara Boassaly: (5-2-0): 59:54, four goals allowed, 23 saves
 
How It Happened:

• Chagnon scored the first goal of the game 6:12 into the first period after freshman Gracelyn Koch (Maple Grove, New Brunswick) stole the puck of the stick of a Spartan to create an offensive zone chance for the Huskies. Nobel tied the game with a power play score with 6:45 left in the period following a tripping call against the Huskies.
• Noble added a second goal just 56 seconds into the second period to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead. Castleton then scored three more times in the period with Moa Carlsson potting another power play goal at 7:27, Noble completing the hat trick at 10:15 and Caris Erickson scoring at 18:21. Elizarkov ended the 5-0 Castleton run with a score with 50 seconds left in the period.
• Hughes got the Huskies back within a goal with back-to-back goals in the first 10 minutes of the third period. Her first score came 1:16 into the period and she tipped in a shot by senior Audrey Donahue (Timberlea, Nova Scotia/Kimball Union Academy) on the power play with 10:42 left to go to make the score 5-4. Fifth year senior Jillian Jackson (Fredericton, New Brunswick/Ontario Hockey Academy) also assisted.
• Castleton successfully converted on the power play again with 5:12 left to play thanks to a Mikayla Brightman goal. The Huskies pulled Gawley with 50 seconds left but managed just one shot on goal before the clock ran out.

 
Inside The Stats:

• VTSU Castleton had a slim 29-27 lead in shots on goal but led 31-17 in faceoff wins.
• The Castleton specials teams shined as the power play units went 3-for-5. The Huskies were 1-for-4 on power plays.
• Hughes now has multiple points in three games this season including each of the last two games. Three of her six goals this season have come against Castleton.

 
Up Next:
The Huskies will play their final non-conference game of the season on Saturday, January 31 when the Salve Regina University Seahawks make the trip north to Gorham.