Potsdam, N.Y. - The Spartans got off to a sizzling start, ripping off seven goals en route to a 7-0 beating of Becker in the first round of the Collegiate Village Cup, hosted by Postam St. on Saturday, Aug. 31. 

Castleton's top scorer last season, Mallory Costello, picked up right where she left off, leading the squad with a pair of goals, while four members of the Spartans' touted freshman class knocked in scores as well. Jessica Binkowski got the win for the Spartans in net in her Castleton debut without having to make a save, splitting time with Brielle DeBaise.

Costello cracked the seal on the Spartans' season with a goal in the 11th minute with a header off a pass from freshman Dominique Valancius. After a Becker own goal in the 12th minute that made it 2-0, Costello struck again. In the 18th, the forward gathered a pass from Jenna Bostwick and ripped it into the top netting to put the Spartans up 3-0.

Before the halftime whistle, Castleton netted a fourth goal. First-year midfielder Haley Stewart received a pass from Kim French and beat Becker goalkeeper Kaitlyn Rose to make it 4-0 in favor of the Spartans after the first half. 

In the second frame, Castleton tacked on three more scores, all of them netted by freshmen. Valancius, Morgan Young, and Nicole Wershoven each scored in the second half. Halie Roberge and Allison Vachon each notched assists as well. 

The Spartans outshot the Hawks 50-1 in the contest, with 21 shots on goal. Becker failed to register a shot on goal in the game, and falls to 0-1. Castleton begins their season 1-0 for the second time in three seasons.

The Hawks will compete in the consolation game of the Potsdam College Cup on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 12 pm while the Spartans will take on the winner of Potsdam St. and New England College in the championship game Sept. 1 at 2:30 pm.