CASTLETON, Vt. – The second-seeded Spartans fought out of an early 1-0 deficit and scored the game-winner in the final ten minutes of play as Castleton pulled off a 2-1 victory over No. 3 seed University of Maine at Farmington on Wednesday night at Spartan Stadium to advance to the team's fourth North Atlantic Conference Championship in five seasons.

After falling behind early and tying the game at one in the first half, Dominic Heller (Glenville, N.Y.) provided the late game theatrics, heading in the game-winning goal off a Trevor Kotrady (No. Clarendon, Vt.) corner kick with only 9:05 remaining in the contest.

With the victory, Castleton moves on to the NAC Championship for the fifth time in head coach John Werner's eight-year tenure. They will face the winner of the Husson and Maine Maritime semifinal contest.

The Spartans put pressure on the UMF net in the first ten minutes, but it was the Beavers who broke the scoreless tie at the 17:01 mark. Freshman Luiz Ristow (Joinville, Brazil) fought his way through the defense, used a deft touch to put the ball around the charging Nate Koenemann (Montpelier, Vt.) and then tapped it in for the 1-0 lead.

Castleton kept pressuring the defense and was finally rewarded in the 31st minute. Senior Nick Johnas (Niskayuna, N.Y.) blasted a shot from the 18 and goalie Derek Reilly (Hollis-Brookline, N.H.) could only get his hands up to block the ball back into play. Senior Jacob Ferry (Warwick, R.I.) corralled the rebound and fired home his third goal of the season to tie the score at one.

Five minutes into the second half, the Spartans nearly capitalized on their first corner kick of the game. Kotrady took the kick and booted the ball in the box for sophomore Spencer Dandurand (Colchester, Vt.). His header went straight up in the air, but Tanner LeCuyer (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) corralled the rebound and took a shot that was saved by Reilly.

UMF's first chance to score in the second period came in the 69th minute. The ball bounced over the defense and Jake Constantine (Woodland, N.J.) took advantage, dribbling it down the sideline before crossing it just outside the six. Ristow one-timed it and Koenemann made the diving save to prevent the would-be goal.

Castleton finally broke through at the 80:05 mark off Kotrady's corner. The junior lofted ball into the center of the six and amidst a sea of heads, Heller was able to direct the ball into the back left of the net.

Reilly finished with eight saves in net as the Beavers dropped to 9-8 overall. Koenemann made five stops in goal cut off numerous crosses as the Spartans improve to 12-5-2 overall.