SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Castleton field hockey team fell to Union College by a final score of 6-4 on Tuesday evening in their first game of the season.  Haley Spittle tallied a goal and an assist in the Spartan defeat.

Joining Spittle in the goal column were teammates Anna-Michelle Fabian, Emily Lowell and Emily Hudson, while Sarah Wells had two. Castleton had five corners for the night. Meeghan Doris stopped 14 shots for the Spartans.

Hudson gave the Spartans (0-1) a 1-0 lead with a score from the middle just 3:10 into the contest before Bretta Beer rattled off three consecutive goals for Union (1-0). Spittle made it a 3-2 game with 1:35 remaining in the first half as she had a tip in at the doorstep. Union had a 15-8 shot advantage at halftime.

Hannah Christian made it 4-2 Union with an assist from Laura Pacheco at 40:55, but Fabian made it a one-goal game again, receiving a pass directly in front at 49:19. Beer notched her fourth at 57:53 with a drive from just over 10 yards out, but Castleton answered once again with a goal from Lowell to make it 5-4 at 61:06 as she picked up a rebound and buried it past the Union netminder. Hannah Madden closed out the scoring just 1:40 later with the insurance goal, coming in close from the left of Doris.

Christian scored and added two assists for Union while Rachel Andreana and Laura Pacheco dished out two assists each. Laura Aptowitz made six saves for the Dutchwomen. Union had a 31-13 shot advantage and had 13 corners.

The Spartans are back in action on Friday, September 4, when they host Rivier College at Spartan Stadium.  Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m.