BENNINGTON, Vt. – Peter Lynn collected his first career hat trick in a span of just 8:22 while Blake Hart added two scores of his own to lead the Castleton men's soccer team to a 6-0 victory over the Southern Vt. Mountaineers this afternoon in non-conference play.

Lynn and Hart accounted for five of the Spartans six goals, while Nihad Basic added one of his own. Castleton outshot the opposition 22-6 while holding the edge in corner kicks by 13 to lead the squad to its third straight victory. With the win, the Spartans now stand at 4-2 on the season, while the Mountaineers fall to 0-4 overall. 

After more than 20 minutes of play, Hart opened his scoring account with a strike in the 21st minute to hand the away side an early lead. Solo Felekeni collected a cross in the box before laying the ball off to a cutting Hart, who slotted the ball home to make it 1-0.    

The Spartans continued to pressure the opposition in the first half, attempting three more shots, but the Southern Vt. defense resisted to make it a one-goal affair heading into the break. 

Following halftime, however, Castleton's attack came alive, accounting for five goals in the final 25:40 of play to capture a 6-0 victory.

At the 64:20 mark, Basic collected his second goal of the season on an unassisted score. With the ball loose in the box, the junior midfielder gathered the ball and finished it into the back of the net to extend the away side's advantage to two.

The Spartans were at it again in the 71st minute, as Hart grabbed his second goal of the contest off a feed from Seth Wilmott. Wilmott slipped a pass to Hart in the left side of the box before the senior forward fired a shot past the diving keeper to make it 3-0.

From the 73rd minute on, it was Lynn's game, as he collected his first three career goals in less than nine minutes. His first score came on a header in the 73rd minute followed by a bending strike from well outside the box to put the Spartans ahead by five just two minutes later.

With less than nine minutes remaining in play, Lynn completed the hat trick. Cameron Rossi-Crete picked up his first career assist after providing the service that led to Lynn's left-footed strike ending up in the corner of the net, securing a 6-0 victory.

Amir Pasic and Dan Palker combined to produce Castleton's third consecutive shutout. Pasic picked up his fourth win of the season after making one save in the opening 75:25 of play, while Palker maintained the shutout over the final 14:35 of regulation. Noah Chani, meanwhile, dropped to 0-4 on the year after making seven saves in the losing effort.

The Spartans return to action this Saturday when they travel to Lyndonville, Vt. to take on the Lyndon St. Hornets at 1 pm.