RUTLAND, Vt. – Bowdoin scored just one minute and 20 seconds into the contest and goaltender Richard Nerland made 36 saves in a 3-2 victory over Castleton in ECAC East/NESCAC game at Spartan Arena on Saturday evening. Bowdoin, ranked fourth in the latest USCHO.com NCAA Division III poll, improves to 4-1-0 overall/3-1-0 conference. The Spartans, ranked 14th overall, fall to 4-2-0 overall and 2-2-0 in conference play.

Senior forward Jeff Fanning jump-started the Polar Bears offense barely a minute into the game snapping a wrist shot past Castleton goaltender Seth McNary into the top right corner of the net for a 1-0 advantage.

On the penalty kill, senior defenseman Kyle Hanson gave Bowdoin a 2-0 lead at 10:48 of the first stealing the puck at Castleton's blue-line and firing a laser of a wrist shot into the top
right corner behind McNary. Aaron O'Callahan pushed the Polar Bears ahead 3-0 at 7:19 of the second period with a one-timer from the blue-line over the blocker of Spartans' goaltender Erick Cinotti for his second marker of the season. Rob MacGregor assisted on the score.

Thirty five seconds later, Castleton responded right back as sophomore forward Josh Harris tallied his third goal of the season beating Nerland blocker side to make the score 3-1.  Seconds before the second period ended (19:52), senior captain Lindsay Gullett cut the deficit to 3-2 on the power play stuffing home a loose puck in front of the crease behind Nerland.

Nerland was the difference in net for Bowdoin making 36 saves on the evening. McNary turned away four shots while Cinotti made 15 saves.