Box Score MANSFIELD, Conn. -- The Castleton University field hockey team continued to prove a worthy contender in its first season as a member of the Little East Conference as the Spartans remained unbeaten in conference competition with a 4-2 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University Saturday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.
Picked to finish 11th in the 13-team conference in the pre-season, Castleton (5-2, 3-0 LEC) kept pace as one of three unbeaten LEC leaders through the early going this season, scoring twice in the first 14 minutes and never trailing Saturday.
In the first meeting between the programs in 12 years, the Spartans got two goals and an assist from sophomore Gabriella Hunt and two goals from senior Sarah Wells, scoring twice early and never relinquishing the lead.
Castleton's LEC wins thus far have come over Eastern (7th in pre-season), Bridgewater State (5th) and Western Conn. (t-9th).
Eastern had the better of play in the second half – outshooting the Spartans, 11-7 and matching their two goals and five penaltycorner – but Castleton's two early goals established the tempo that carried the guests to their third road win this year without a loss.
Hunt's early goal was set up by junior Megan Ryan on a cross from the right side to Hunt stationed in the circle, with Hunt's fourth goal of the year cutting through a maze of bodies past Eastern sophomore goalie Keira Integlia (Branford). Wells followed 11 minutes later with her fourth of the year with a hard drive inside the left post.
Eastern twice cut a two-goal deficit in half in the second half on first-year sophomore Sydney Hogan's (Northford) unassisted goal early in the second half to make it 2-1, and senior sister Stephanie Hogan's (Northford) third of the year – a high blast from just inside the circle -- off a penalty corner hit-in from freshman Sydney Collentine (New Fairfield) with eight minutes left that made it 3-2. Wells' fifth goal of the year – off a pass from Hunt -- with under six minutes left, however, wiped out any Eastern thoughts of forcing overtime.
Junior Thashia Pashby-Rockwood made five saves for the win in net. Integlia made six saves before departing soon after Stephanie Hogan's goal that made it 3-2 and freshman Abby Harris (Windham, NH) made one save over the final seven minutes.
Eastern visits Westfield State University in an LEC match Tuesday at 7 p.m.
