CASTLETON, Vt. – Castleton led with just three minutes remaining in regulation, but the second-ranked Williams Ephs tied it up in the 86th minute before scoring a game-winner in overtime to secure a 3-2 victory this afternoon at Cole Field in Williamstown, Mass.

The Ephs attack was in full force, outshooting the Spartans 45-6 while putting 15 shots on goal. Nicole Wershoven and Mallory Costello were on-target for Castleton (1-4), while Eva Clark added her second assist of the year as the squad suffered its fourth straight loss on the season. The Ephs, meanwhile, improved to a perfect 3-0 following a one-goal, one-assist performance from Kristi Kirshe.

Castleton wasted little time to make an impact in the game, as Wershoven netted her second goal of the young season in the 14th minute. After Clark's interception led to the break, the junior attacker dished the ball off to Wershoven, who buried her shot into the open net to give the away side a one-goal lead.

Just over five minutes later, Castleton doubled its lead after Costello netted her fifth goal in as many games. The senior midfielder stole the ball from a Williams defender before dribbling into the box and firing an unassisted shot just past the fingertips of Olivia Barnhill to extend the visitors' lead to two.

With a two-goal deficit, the Ephs offense woke up, and found an answer less than a minute after Costello's strike to close the gap back to one. Kirshe delivered a perfect through ball to Audrey Thomas in the box, and the junior forward slotted home a left-footed strike to make it 2-1 heading into the break.

Williams continued to fight after the half, but Castleton's defense stood strong, shutting out the hosts for more than 66 minutes of play until Gabby Suarez bagged the equalizer with just 3:41 left in regulation. Hanna Kaeser made a run down the right flank before playing a ball into the box that Suarez headed past Jessica Binkowski to bring the game back to level terms at two and force extra time.

With the momentum in their favor, the Ephs didn't let up in the extra frame, and in the 99th minute of play, Kirshe crushed the Spartans' hopes, as she netted the game-winner off a feed from Jacqueline Simeone to secure the comeback, 3-2 victory.

In net, Binkowski produced a solid effort for Castleton, stopping 12 of the 15 shots that she faced with a .800 save percentage. Olivia Barnhill, meanwhile, captured her first win of the season after producing two saves.

The Spartans return to action next Wednesday when they at 4:30 pm when they travel to North Adams, Mass. to square off with the MCLA Trailblazers (1-3) in non-conference action.