NORTHFIELD, Vt- The Norwich University Men's Ice Hockey team dropped their home opener of the 2022-23 season to Castleton 4-3 Friday night at Kreitzberg Arena.
The Cadets squandered an early opportunity when senior
Brandon Picard (Montreal, Que.) received a five-minute major and game misconduct for contact to the head twelve minutes in and mustered zero shots on goal. Soon after the power play sophomore
Bryce Irwin (Victoria, B.C.) broke the ice with his first of the season late in the first period.
Early in the second period Castleton struck again with a goal from freshman
Zach Boulet (St. Catherine de la Jacque Cartier, Que.) with his first collegiate goal. Three minutes later junior
Patrick O'Neal (Indiana, Pa.) tallied the proximate goal triggering the Darn Tough Sock Toss to bring the Cadets to within one. One minute and 38 seconds later sophomore
Clark Kerner (Kansas City, Kan.) tied things up scoring his NEHC leading sixth of the young season.
Shortly before the second period expired Boulet would score again to give the Spartans the lead heading into second intermission. Castleton would get an insurance powerplay marker from sophomore
Andrew Stefura (Boston, Mass.) which would turn into the game winning goal. The Cadets attempted a fierce comeback as time wound down and getting a goal from senior
Noah Williams (Cortland, N.Y.), Williams's second point
, but the Spartans held the fort and the comeback fell short.
The Cadets will look to get back on the winning track Saturday afternoon against Skidmore at Kreitzberg Arena with a 4 PM start.
