PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Castleton State College field hockey team nearly completed a second half comeback, but came up just short falling on the road to Plymouth State University Thursday afternoon.

Plymouth State raced out to a 3-0 lead at halftime, and eventually pushed it to 4-0 before Castleton began its late comeback.

Jackie Morin (Scarborough, Maine) broke through for the game's opening tally sending home a Lauren Carroll (Rollinsford, N.H.) assist off a penalty corner during the 14th minute of play.

Christina Parisi (Hampton Falls, N.H.) made it 2-0 on an unassisted marker 12 minutes later, and Nikki Garvey (Canaan, N.H.) pushed the lead to 3-0 five minutes later.

Carroll converted a loose ball into her first goal of the season just five minutes into the second half, increasing the Panther lead further.

Kealy Chipman (Bellows Falls, Vt.) finally put the Spartans on the board with 15 minutes left in the contest, setting off a flurry of Spartan goals over the next six minutes of play. Blake Wardwell (Woodstock, Vt.) sliced the lead in half five minutes later and Chipman made it 4-3 with just over eight minutes left but the Spartans could not find the equalizer.

Plymouth State held a 27-14 advantage in the shot column, leading to an impressive 15-save performance by senior Bridget Dusha (Greenwich, N.Y.).

The 0-3 Spartans open their home slate Saturday when they play host to Mount Holyoke at 1 pm.