CASTLETON, Vt. – The Spartans gave up an early goal but responded with the final four of the game as they earned a 4-1 non-conference victory over Plymouth St. on cold Tuesday at Spartan Stadium. 

Castleton had five different players record a point and outshot the visiting Panthers 23-5 as the team improved to 9-6-1 with the victory. Plymouth St. finished the contest with one corner kick to nine for the Spartans as the Panthers dropped to 5-10 overall. 

Just five minutes into the game, Emily Bell gave Plymouth St. the 1-0 lead. She collected the ball from 25 yards out and fired a ball that carried across the mouth of the goal into the upper corner, past the outstretched hands of goalie Jessica Binkowski. 

Castleton netted the equalizer in the 22nd minute. Midfielder Jess Phillips fed Sarah Carlson just inside the middle of the 18 and the freshman turned and ripped a shot past a helpless Annaliese Schmidt in net.

Just 38 seconds later the Spartans took the lead on a beautiful pass from Philips to Nichole Wershoven. The sophomore fed a through ball from just inside the midfield to the box. Wershoven received it, took a few dribbles and put the defender on her back before depositing it near post for the 2-1 advantage. 

Castleton nearly pushed the lead to 3-1 in the final five minutes of the half. Eva Clark took the ball down the sideline and put a beautiful cross past Schmidt to Bri DiPhilippo, but her shot hit the crossbar and flew back into play. 

In the second half, the Spartans had a breakaway attempt just seven minutes in, but Mallory Costello was stopped on a diving attempt to the right by Schmidt for the save. Kiley Baran tried to finish off the rebound but a defender knocked it off the goal line. 

In the 57th minute Castleton was finally able to extend its lead. After a deflection out of the box, the ball bounced to Jenna Bostwick. She took a dribble and fired a shot to the upper corner of the net for the 1-3 advantage. 

Bostwick nearly added to her goal total ten minutes later on a breakaway attempt but Schmidt made a diving save as she charged the forward inside the box. 

The Spartans added to their lead at 79:37 on a great individual effort from Costello. She dribbled the ball down the far sideline and beat her defender before firing a shot from just outside the six past a diving Schmidt to make it 4-1. 

Binkowski finished with one save as she earned the win in net while Schmidt was saddled with the loss after allowing four goals and making ten saves.