Wentworth Institute of Technology Athletics

Late Goal Pushes Hockey to a Draw at Castleton

Xavier Vaillancourt’s goal with 1:32 left in regulation knotted the game at 4-all and Topher Chirico made seven of his career-high tying 46 saves in overtime

Brendan Carpenter Photography
Brendan Carpenter Photography
Box Score
November 1, 2025

RUTLAND, Vt. – Xavier Vaillancourt's goal with 1:32 left in regulation knotted the game at 4-all and Topher Chirico made seven saves in overtime as the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team played to a 4-all tie against Vermont State University Castleton Saturday afternoon. In the shootout following overtime, the Spartans prevailed, 2-1.

After the game, both teams stand at 0-1-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • Wentworth wasted little time jumping out to a 1-0 lead as Nicholas Ramm notched his first of the season just 29 seconds into the contest.
  • Using a pair of goals 77 seconds apart, Castleton took a 2-1 lead as Trevor Castino scored at 13:39 before Josef Vyvial gave the hosts the lead with a goal at 15:56.
  • The Leopards evened the score at 2-all 47 seconds later as Shea Thibeault set up Ian Worthley for his first of the season.
  • After the flurry of goals late in the first period, the second period was much quieter offensively and the game remained tied at 2-all until the 11:16 mark when Wentworth's Anthony Dalessio gave the Leopards a 3-2 lead.
  • The Spartans' Jackson Edwards tied the game at 3-all when he scored on the power play at the 13:32 mark and Castleton had three shots on goal in the final 1:13 that Chirico saved.
  • Cedrick Theodore put the hosts on top, 4-3, with a goal at the 3:12 mark of the third period and had chances to increase its lead, however, Chirico turned aside a total of 12 shots in the period.
  • Chirico was pulled for an extra attacker with 2:21 left in the contest and, with 1:32 left, the move paid off as Vaillancourt scored his first collegiate goal from Worthley and Ramm. Chirico's 13th save of the period came with 43 seconds left on a bid to go ahead by the Spartans.
  • Castleton had a 7-1 shot advantage in overtime, with Chirico's seven saves bringing his game total to a career-high matching 46.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

  • Today was the 10th all-time meeting between the two teams. Wentworth leads, 5-3-2.

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