Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – The Castleton field hockey team trailed just 2-0 at the half, but couldn't draw even as they dropped a 7-2 decision to eighth-ranked Skidmore on Friday afternoon at Thoroughbred Field.
 
In the season opener for both teams, the Thoroughbreds wasted no time getting the scoring started as junior Kelly Blackhurst deflected a Molly Gile pass past freshman goalie Heather Ploof (Salisbury, Vt.) of Castleton at the 3:37 mark to take the early lead.  Skidmore made it 2-0 on a Sam Skott goal at 27:40. Anna Wahl assisted on the goal as they maintained the two goal lead at the half.
 
Blackhurst extended the lead with her second of the game on a breakaway at 37:14. The Spartans answered back as Blake Wardell (Bridgewater, Vt.) put home a rebound less than two minutes later to make it a 3-1 game.
 
Skidmore came right back as Skott and Blackhurst each tallied another goal to push the lead to 5-1. Castleton cut the lead back to three after Kealy Chipman (Bellows Falls, Vt.) set up Rachel Preusser  (Craryville, N.Y.), but the Thoroughbreds added a pair of goals in the final 2:37 as Hilary Cranston and Dani DeGregory both tallied their first collegiate goals and Skidmore went on to the 7-2 win.
 
Haley McDougall finished with seven saves in goal, while Blackhurst tallied three goals and two assists for eight points.
 
Ploof made 11 stops for Castleton, while Corrine Healy (Jefferson Twp. N.J.) had a defensive save.
 
The Thoroughbreds outshot the Spartans 26-14 and held an 11-6 advantage in penalty corners.

Both teams return to action on Sunday as Skidmore hosts Babson at noon and the Spartans host Univ. of New England at 2 p.m. in their opener at Spartan Stadium.