TROY, N.Y. – The Castleton women's soccer team got their season off to a strong start behind the leg of Courtney Chadburn (North Clarendon, Vt.) and the play of goalie Ericka Davis (Cambridge, Vt.), as they beat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) 1-0 on Thursday evening at Renwyck Field.

Following a scoreless first half, Chadburn found the back of the net in the 61st minute for an unassisted goal and it was all the Spartans would need as the defense, namely Davis held strong in the back. Davis was an anchor as she stopped eight shots to preserve the win and earn the shutout.

Despite the 1-0 score it wasn't a one-sided affair, as RPI out-shot Castleton in the first half 7-2 and 17-6 in the game. The Engineers also had nine corners compared to three for the Spartans.

The victory over RPI snapped a two-game losing streak to the Engineers and gave them their first season-opening victory since 2004 and the first for head coach Chris Chapdelaine.

Castleton returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 3 when the team travels to Boston to take on Lesley at 4 p.m.