CASTLETON, Vt. – Kelly Blackhurst (North River, N.Y.) scored a pair of goals to lead No. 7 Skidmore College to a season-opening 3-0 win over Castleton State College Thursday evening at Spartan Stadium.

Castleton and Skidmore played through 34 minutes of scoreless action before Annie Rosencrans (Riverside, Conn.) broke through for the Thoroughbreds. Molly Gile (Dover, N.H.) played a perfect pass into the striking circle from the left flank and Rosencrans misdirected it just inside the nearside post.

Blackhurst potted a pair of goals in the second half to push the lead to 3-0, the first off a Rosencrans assist. Ceilidh MacNeill (Framingham, Mass.) took a penalty corner from the left side of the cage, moved it to Rosencrans who centered to Blackhurst for a rocket past Castleton goalie Bridget Dusha (Greenwich, N.Y.).

Skidmore's final marker came off an excellent second-effort by Blackhurst after a Dusha save. Blackhurst shot high only to have Dusha swat it back down to her stick where the sophomore struck a rocket into the back of the cage.

Castleton had a great chance to take the early advantage with 22 minutes remaining in the first half if not for an excellent effort by Skidmore goalie Haley McDougall (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.). Rachel Preusser (Craryville, N.Y.) rushed up the left flank, creating a two-on-one with McDougall, but her centering pass was knocked away by the sprawling net minder.

Dusha (11 saves) was solid all game for Castleton, and was aided by a stout Spartan defense led by Alex Sears (Cornwall, Vt.) and Stacey Sullivan (Bridgewater, Vt.) who each had defensive saves.

McDougall stopped all four shots that came her way to earn the shutout.

Castleton will travel to the University of New England Sunday, September 4 for a 2 p.m. non-conference match while Skidmore is on the road at Babson Saturday at noon.