CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton women's soccer team improved to a perfect 7-0 in the North Atlantic Conference and took sole possession of first place in the conference with an impressive 2-0 victory over Colby-Sawyer in Spartan Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. 

The win ended a four-game losing streak to the Chargers and also snapped the visitors' 34-game regular season conference unbeaten streak. Colby-Sawyer's last loss in NAC regular season play was to the Spartans back in 2011. 

Junior Shelby McLenithan was dynamic, scoring both of Castleton's goals, while Mallory Costello assisted on each tally. Jessica Binkowski stood tall in net, making four saves to earn her fourth shutout of the season as the Spartans improved to 9-7. The Chargers, meanwhile, dropped to 10-3-2 and 7-1 in the NAC. 

Castleton got on the board just 4:42 into the game as Shelby McLenithan put home her fifth goal in as many games. Eva Clark started the play by sending a through ball to the far corner of the 18 for Mallory Costello. The senior took two touches and then sent a cross on the ground to the middle of the six where McLenithan one-touched it home. 

With just 3:30 left in the half, Costello nearly doubled the Castleton lead as she beat two defenders inside the box before sending a low shot past Hamilton but just wide of the net. 

Colby-Sawyer forced Binkowski to make three saves and had three corner kicks to just one for the Spartans in the first period.

The score remained 1-0 until the 58th minute when Costello and McLenithan connected once more. Costello dribbled the ball down the near sideline before sending a cross to the middle of the six. Both Clark and McLenithan converged on the ball, but McLenithan got a foot on it first and one-touched it into the back of the net. 

Colby-Sawyer tried to make a late run but was repeatedly denied by the strong Spartan defense. 

The Chargers' Karley Hamilton finished with three saves as she lost just her third game of the year. 

Castleton looks to stay unbeaten in the NAC when the team hosts Husson at 1 pm on Saturday.