CASTLETON, Vt. – In their season finale, the Spartans dropped a tough, home match to non-conference opponent Union, 3-2. Blaire Hooper and Nicole Wershoven grabbed the goals for Castleton in the losing effort. 

Both teams battled hard in the opening minutes, looking to gain possession and momentum of the game.

In the 15th minute, the Dutchwomen nearly tallied the first goal of the game when Breana Derella rifled a shot in from 25-yards out, but Castleton's keeper, Jessica Binkowski, made a diving effort to make the save.

Just three minutes later, Union took the first lead of the game. A Dutchwomen skied a shot high into the air, and Binkowski knocked it away. However, Mollie Gilchrist gathered the rebound and tapped the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0 in favor of the away side.

In the 42nd minute, Union doubled its lead when Stacey Sylvetsky delivered a bending 25-yard shot that beat Binkowski, giving the Dutchwomen a 2-0 lead.

The Spartans were able to find an answer with just 30 seconds remaining in the first half. Hooper dribbled the ball down the near sideline, setting herself and firing a shot from 30 yards out that flew just past the keeper's fingertips and under the crossbar, cutting the home side's deficit back to one.

In the 64th minute, Union tallied its third goal of the match to extend its advantage back to two. Whitney Bickford delivered a cross into the box, and Gilchrist volleyed a shot home for her second goal of the match, to push the Spartans lead to 3-1. 

With 11 minutes remaining, it seemed that Union had grabbed its fourth goal of the match when Kara Modliszewski put a shot on target, but Binkowski tipped the shot and gathered it just before it crossed the goal line to keep the home side two goals behind.

Four minutes later, Wershoven gave Castleton some hope when she grabbed her second goal of the season. Mallory Costello delivered a bending cross towards the far side post, and Wershoven buried it home to cut the Dutchwomen's lead back to one. 

However, the Spartans comeback fell just short as they were unable to capture an equalizer in the final minutes of play, finishing their regular season with a record of 11-7-1 overall (7-1-1 in the NAC). With the win, Union (N.Y.) improved to 10-4-2 on the season. 

Binkowski received her seventh loss of the season after making 12 saves, while Allison Brustowicz picked up the win for the Dutchwomen with four saves in 90 minutes of play.

Castleton had already clinched the No. 2 seed and an opening round bye in the North Atlantic Conference Tournament with Sunday's 2-1 win at Husson. Therefore, the Spartans return to action next Wednesday for the NAC Semifinals when they host the winner of the Johnson St. at Husson quarterfinal game.