CASTLETON, Vt. - Castleton put on an offensive clinic in the first half on Tuesday, scoring six times en route to a 9-3 victory over Union College at Spartan Stadium.

Junior Kealy Chipman (Bellows Falls, Vt.) recorded her first hat trick of the season and was one of four players to record at least four points. Castleton only outshot the Dutchwomen 22-19, but made its shots count with the six-goal win.

The Spartans put Union in a hole early, scoring just 1:15 into the contest. Junior Mercedes Malbie (Warrensburg, N.Y.) ripped a shot from the top of the striking circle past the defense for the 1-0 advantage.

Castleton added to its lead less than four minutes later as Cori Healy (Jefferson Township, N.J) dished to Rachel Preusser (Craryville, N.Y.) on a two-on-one breakaway for the nice score.

Union got on the board with 23:52 remaining in the half as Caroline Moran (Unionville, Pa.) scored off a penalty corner from Ali Flake (Vineyard Haven, Mass.). The Spartans responded 32 seconds later as Chipman one-timed a pass from Blake Wardwell (Bridgewater, Vt.) past Molly McCune (Arlington, Mass.).

The Dutchwomen cut the lead to 3-2 at the 16:51 mark, however, a minute and a half later the Spartans made it a 4-2 contest when Wardwell found Healy in front of the net. Union responded a minute and a half later as Isabel Zellweger (Rye, N.Y.) lifted a shot over the entire defense and into the top right corner of the net from the striking circle.

Castleton pushed its advantage back to two at the 21:48 mark with a goal from Healy, and Chipman made it a 6-3 contest just over a minute later off an assist from Preusser.

Preusser led off the second half scoring as she deposited a goal in the cage at the 48:30 mark. Five and a half minutes later Chipman secured her hat trick with a goal off a rebound in front of the net.

Wardwell scored the final goal of the game, hitting home a shot from right in front of the net. The sophomore finished with one goal and two assists while Preusser and Healy each had two goals and an assist.

Mary McCune made five saves in net for the Dutchwomen while senior Bridget Dusha was forced to make six stops. Union drops to 0-7 on the season while the Spartans improve to 4-5.

Castleton takes to the field on Saturday when the team travels to play Lasell at 1 p.m.