#3 Castleton wins Rutland Herald Invitational over Morrisville State hockey, 4-3

Nationally ranked third, Castleton State University ice hockey battled to a 4-3 victory over visiting Morrisville State College Sunday afternoon, clinching the Rutland Herald Invitational Championship at the Spartan Arena in Rutland, Vermont.



Morrisville State dropped to 2-5-1 overall, as Alex Tillaart (Ashburn, ONT) earned All-Tournament Team honors.



Castleton remains undefeated at 9-0.



Matthew Beer (Corunna, ONT) led the Mustangs with two goals, while Patrick Stillar (Burlington, ONT) posted a goal and assist.



Nick Lazorko recorded a hat trick for the Spartans, assisting the fourth Castleton goal scored by Ryan Frost.



Castleton put the first tally up on the board just 4:56 in, taking advantage of an early Mustang penalty for the man advantage score from Lazorko. Within minutes, Morrisville State evened the contest at one, as Stillar put the backhanded score into the net off a Castleton turnover within their own zone. Geoff Matzel (Chittenango, NY) and Jamie Nelson (Stratford, ONT) were credited with the assists.



Early in the second, Castleton was whistled for a holding penalty, and Morrisville State took advantage as Beer gave the Mustangs a one goal advantage with the power play tally just 6:48 into the period. Stillar and Todd Hosmer (Scarborough, ONT) earned assists on the score.



The Spartans evened it up for the second time of the afternoon, as Lazarko posted his second tally nearly three minutes later, and Lazarko recorded his third of the day at 13:18, converting the second power play advantage for Castleton, for the 3-2 lead.



Morrisville State took advantage of two Spartan penalties called in the third, as Beer notched his second tally of the day, collecting the rebound off an initial Mustang shot for the power play score at 9:01 to tie the contest at three.



Castleton responded nearly two minutes later, as Frost broke up the middle of the ice and was able to get the puck past Morrisville State netminder, Colin Breen (Waterloo, ONT) for the game winning score.



Breen was pulled in the final 1:22 of the contest in an effort to net another Mustang tally, but Spartan goaltender Thomas Shelley was able to keep Morrisville State scoreless, earning the win in net. Shelley turned away 21 in the contest to post the win in net.



Breen had 30 saves in the loss of the Mustangs, who return to the ice Friday night at conference opponent, SUNY Geneseo.