NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The "Battle of Vermont" lived up to the hype as Castleton edged in-state rival Norwich 3-2 in overtime of a physical and high energy non-conference game on Saturday at Kreitzberg Arena.

Castleton freshman Nick Lazorko scored his first collegiate goal 1:40 into overtime on a power play to lift the Spartans (6-2-0, 3-2-0 ECAC East) to the win and in the process break Norwich's 21-game home unbeaten streak.

Norwich (5-2-1, 4-0-1 ECAC East) was called for a bench minor for too many players on the ice 38 seconds into the overtime session allowing Castleton to go on its third power play of the night after the Spartans had already converted on both of their previous opportunities.

The third time was no different as Lindsey Gullett skated behind the net and caught Norwich's two defensemen both on the wrong side of the net. Gullett dished a pass off to Lazorko, who was standing to Norwich goalie Alex Dubois' right side. Lazorko waited for a moment and then shoveled the puck past a sprawled out Dubois inside the far post to clinch the win.

Norwich opened the scoring 7:47 into the first period when Kyle Thomas scored on his patented arm-extended move to give the Cadets a 1-0 lead.

Thomas received a pass from Tory Allan and then streaked in from the left wing around a Castleton defender. Leading with his arm, Thomas protected the puck and then switched over to his forehand before crossing in front of the crease and slamming the puck under Castleton goalie Seth McNary's out-stretched pad.  McNary got a piece of it, but the puck trickled across the line for Thomas' fourth tally of the season.

Norwich had a golden opportunity to extend its lead in the second period when Castleton had two penalties called four seconds apart giving the Cadets a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:56. However, Castleton was able to kill it off.

Castleton finally got on the board 1:29 into the third period when Josh Harris capitalized on a Norwich turnover at the blue line. Harris skated in on a breakaway and roofed a shot into the upper-90 of the goal and over Dubois' glove to tie the game at one.

Norwich took the lead right back at the 3:55 mark of the third when Scott Schroeder finally found the handle on a loose puck in front to give the Cadets a 2-1 lead. Pier-Olivier Cotnoir and Francois Gatien both had initial shots blocked by McNary, but Schroeder was able to slip it in after a massive scrum in front of the net.

Castleton tied it back up at the 11:19 mark of the third when Justin Alonzo capitalized on another power play opportunity with assists from Ben Schoeneberger and Harris.

The Spartans almost took the lead with 18 seconds left in the game when Gullett ripped a shot off the far post that was ruled no goal by the officials after a lengthy conference.

Norwich outshot Castleton 27-24. The Cadets were 0-for-5 on the power play, while the Spartans were a perfect 3-for-3.

Dubois stopped 21 shots and dropped to 5-2-1 on the season, while McNary turned aside 25 shots and improved to 5-1.

The two teams will meet again on Feb. 11 at Castleton's Spartan Arena in Rutland for the league game.

Norwich will have three weeks off before returning to action on Dec. 31 when the Cadets host their annual tournament. The Cadets will be joined at Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament, formerly the Times Argus Invitational, by Manhattanville, Adrian, and Nichols.

Norwich faces Nichols at 4 p.m. and Manhattanville meets Adrian at 1 p.m.