CASTLETON, Vt. – Hilary Cooke (Marlborough, Conn.) scored just three minutes and nine seconds into the contest, and the Castleton State College defense needed little else as the Spartans defeated Husson University 3-0 in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) women's soccer championship.

The top-seeded Spartans improve to 16-2-1 overall and earn the automatic qualifier to the NCAA National Tournament. The four-time defending champion and third-seeded Eagles wrap up their season at 14-6-1.

Cooke notched her 16th goal of the season, heading home a Kelly Tetreault (Tolland, Conn.) serve. Tetreault took a direct kick from 30 yards out, played it perfectly into the box and Cooke was able to get just enough of the ball to redirect it past Husson goalie Rozlyn Peterson (Newport, Maine).

Five minutes later Castleton pushed its lead to 2-0 as Brandy White (Springfield, Vt.) headed home her second goal of the season. Three-time NAC Player of the Year Courtney Chadburn (North Clarendon, Vt.) sent a cross into the left edge of the box from the right flank that White allowed to bounce once and redirected inside the right post.

With 24 minutes remaining in the first half Castleton had a pair of corner kicks turned away by an excellent individual effort from Peterson to keep the Eagles within striking distance.

Husson tried to press in the second half, and very nearly cut the lead in half nine minutes in. Alexandra Laniewski (Scarborough, Maine) set up Michelle Manning (Hampden, Maine) streaking inside the right edge of the box. Manning found herself alone with Castleton goalie Ericka Davis (Cambridge, Vt.). Manning tried to push it past towards the left foot but Davis dove and made a one-handed save to preserve the shutout.

Castleton took a 3-0 lead on an own goal in the 65th minute as Megan Blongy (Rutland, Vt.) sent a cross in from the right side that was redirected into the goal by a Husson defender.

The Eagles once again had a scoring chance with 14 minutes remaining as Caitlyn Butterfield (Gorham, Maine) sent a long serve into the box that Laniewski nearly headed home, but Davis was equal to the task.

Peterson ended the contest with four saves and Davis stopped four to earn her seventh shutout of the season.

Castleton will make its second trip to the NCAA National Tournament, avenging last season's loss in the conference final to the Eagles. Since 2001 the two teams have met 13 times, with Husson leading the series 6-5-2. The 16 wins this season equals a program-high set in 2004 when Castleton went 16-4-1. The Spartans last earned a spot in the tournament in 2005, losing to Springfield College in the opening round.

NAC WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
University of Maine-Farmington - Katie Cray
University of Maine-Farmington - Renee Brown
Johnson State College - Kathryn Johnson
Johnson State College - Emily Hassard
Husson University - Alexandra Laniewski
Husson University - Kayleigh Piccirillo
Husson University - Katelyn Cloutier
Castleton State College - Kelly Tetreault - MVP
Castleton State College - Hilary Cooke
Castleton State College - Courtney Chadburn
Castleton State College - Maria Arnot
Castleton State College - Megan Blongy