Box Score

(story courtesy Castleton State College)

CASTLETON, Vt. -- The Castleton State College field hockey team raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first 15 minutes of play, and held on to defeat University of New England 5-4 in non-conference action.

Castleton opened the scoring 3:14 into the contest when Sarah Flore carried the ball just inside the arc sent home a rocket for her second goal of the season. The Spartans tacked on two more over the next 10 minutes of play as Trishia Fellows set up Kayla Blank with perfect crosses in front of the cage on both scores.

The Nor'easters did not go away, however, as Nicole Mace scored a pair of unanswered goals to cut the lead to 3-2. Chelsea Davis assisted on Mace's second goal of the game on a perfect pass across the goalmouth.

Castleton answered with a pair of goals before halftime as Molly Fraher scored her first of the season and Fellows tallied her third on a Flore assist to make it 5-2 at intermission.

Once again, the Nor'easters made a run at Castleton, and make it close at the end. With less than 12 minutes to go, Brianna Tupper scored a pretty goal reverse-stick off a Whitney Tostenson assist. Then, with less than 10 to play Kim Anderson pushed a shot passed the sprawling Trisha Clark to make it 5-4. It was as close as UNE would come, as Clark and the Spartans held strong over the final nine minutes to come away with the win.

Clark and Nor'easter goalie, Ayla Nelson each finished with eight saves on the game. University of New England falls to 0-1 on the season and will play its home opener on September 9 when the Nor'easters play host to Southern Maine at 4:00 pm. The Spartans improve to 2-2, and are back in action on September 10 when they play host to Plymouth State at 4:00 pm.