CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton field hockey team scored seven unanswered goals to advance to the North Atlantic Conference Championship on Wednesday afternoon with a 7-1 victory over the University of Maine at Farmington at Spartan Stadium.

UMF scored just 40 seconds into the game, but it was all Spartans after that, led by junior Rachel Preusser (Craryville, N.Y.) and senior Kelly Chipman (Bellows Falls, Vt.). Preusser recorded her first hat trick of the season and added an assist while Chipman scored twice in a 2:21 span to put the game out of reach early in the second half.

With the victory, Castleton improves to 16-4 on the season and will be making its first appearance in the NAC Championship since winning it all in 2008. UMF concludes its season with an 8-8 record.

The Beavers scored their lone goal at the 40-second mark of the first half. Lily Barry (Hermon, Maine) had ball on the far side of the net and dished a pass over to Annie Agnew (Guilford, Maine) on the near corner. She took the pass and fired a shot into the cage before Jessica Galatioto (Queensbury, N.Y.) could react.

Castleton responded with the equalizer just 4:18 later. Brynn Cayia (Berlin, Vt.) fired a lead pass through the defense on the near side of the field to a streaking Preusser. Preusser took one touch before slipping it between the legs of the charging Curran Brierley (East Hampton, N.Y.) and into the net.

Both teams had their opportunities, but it was the Spartans who broke the tie at the 26:19 mark. Kristy Pinkham (Brandon, Vt.) ripped apass from 40 yards out right to Preusser waiting on the near post, and she touched it home for her 22nd goal of the season.

In the second half, Castleton added to its lead in the 43rd minute. Mercedes Maltbie (Warrensburg, N.Y.) collected the ball off a penalty corner at the top of the circle and dished it to Pinkham. She fired a rocket that made it through the defense for the 3-1 lead.

The Spartans pushed their lead to 4-1 at the 46:27 mark when Chipman scored off a rebound. She made it 5-1 2:21 later off a nice pass from Preusser.

Preusser added her third goal with just over 16 minutes remaining and Maltbie concluded the scoring at the 56:19 mark.

Galatioto made fives saves in net to earn her 16th win of the season. Brierley finished with seven saves while allowing the first sixgoals, before giving way to Felisha Taylor, who allowed the final score.

Chipman's two goals on the day give her 25 for the season, breaking the previous single-season program-record of 23, set in 2008 by Carolyn Griggs. Preusser's seven points give her 57 points, the program's second-highest single-season total. She only trails Chipman, who has 63 points so far this season.

The Spartans return to action on Saturday in the NAC Championship when they face the winner of the Husson/New England College semifinal.