CASTLETON, Vt. – Mike Richard (Derry, N.H.) scored the go-ahead goal just over two minutes into the third period and Liam McKillop (New York, N.Y.) and Greg Merrill (Brighton, Mich.) each added a pair of assists as the Saint Anselm College men's ice hockey team skated to a 3-3 deadlock with No. 14 Castleton State College on Friday evening at Spartan Arena.

The Hawks are dished their first tie of the season and now stand at 2-0-1 both on the year and in the ECAC East, while the Spartans move to 1-1-2 on the season and in the league.

Saint Anselm earned a pair of power plays early in the first stanza, including 51 seconds of a 5-on-3 advantage. Castleton killed both of those chances for the Hawks, who held an 11-7 edge in shots at the close of one period.

The Hawks jumped out of the gate in the second frame as they netted the first goal of the game on a power play at 5:48. Bryan Sullivan (Burlington, Mass.) took in a rebound right in front and fired it into the back of the net before Spartan netminder Thomas Shelley had time to recover.

The Spartans answered back at 7:19 when Kevin Van Dyk put a shot on net and it bounced off the pads of Robert Kang (Glen Rock, N.J.) and over to the near side of the net. Colin Murray charged the near post and flipped the puck home for the equalizer before Kang could react.

Less than 30 seconds later the Hawks took back the lead thanks to a goal from Tucker Mullin (Andover, Mass.). Mullin beat a 2-on-1 on the near side of the ice and wristed a shot right under the pads of Shelley into the far corner of the net.

Castleton would then even the score for a second time 21 seconds into the third stanza when Nick Lazorko and Josh Harris came in on a 2-on-1 and Lazorko fired the puck around a defender and on net. The puck caromed off of Kang's pads, before Harris gave it the final slap.

Saint Anselm answered at the 2:26 mark when Mike Richard (Derry, N.H.) took a pass from the far side of the ice and one-timed it into the back of the net.

Castleton came back once again, this time on a goal by Kyle Richards with 10:38 remaining. Justin Alonzo picked up an assist on the play.

Neither team was able to net the game winner in the extra period. Shelley finished with 29 saves on the night, while Kang made 23 stops in net.

The Hawks return to action Saturday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. when they travel to take on Skidmore College. The next home game for the Hawks is Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. when they play host to nationally-ranked Norwich University at Sullivan Arena. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by liking us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/STAHawks) and following us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/STAHawks).