CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton men's soccer team picked up a convincing, 7-0 victory on Wednesday evening under the lights of Spartan Stadium in its final regular-season home game of the season.

The Spartans reach .500 for the first time this season with the win, improving to 8-8-2. Southern Vermont falls to 4-9-3 with the loss.

Seven seniors were honored prior to the game, as they competed in their final regular season game. Senior Seth Wilmott made the most of the evening, tallying a goal and an assist for a career-high three points in the game. Jack Kingdon continued his stellar rookie campaign, registering a goal and an assist for three points of his own. Five other Spartans scored goals in the contest, while Dan Palker made one save in his second shutout of the season.

Chris Jimenez made 10 saves in goal for the Mountaineers, while Daniel Rangel and Paddy McGovern were the only SVC players to register shot attempts in the contest.

The Spartans got out to an early lead, as Fidele Rutayisire scored his seventh goal of the season in the ninth minute of the game. He dribbled the ball down the right side of the field before placing a left-footed shot into the top corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.

Kingdon doubled that lead to two goals in the 22nd minute, collecting a loose ball in the box following a corner kick and rocketing one to the back of the net. Just six minutes later, Wilmott pushed the lead to 3-0 when he pulled the trigger on a shot from the near side, banking it off the far post and in for his third goal of the season.

Coming out of the halftime break up 3-0, the Spartan offense continued its pressure. Just 34 seconds into the frame, Nick Kaiafas scored his first goal of the season, heading home a cross from Kingdon to make it 4-0 in favor of the home team. Tatenda Shumba got in on the action in the 74th minute, making it 5-0 Castleton after finishing a through ball from Derek Blouin under a charging goaltender. The Spartans tallied a pair of quick goals in the 81st and 83rd minutes to cap the contest, with Colby Gay and Owen McDonald scoring, respectively.

The Spartans dominated every facet of the game, controlling the pace of play while outshooting Southern Vermont, 39-2 (17-1 SOG), and receiving 11 corner kicks while the Mountaineers earned none.

Castleton is off until next Tuesday, Nov. 1, when it hosts an opponent to be determined in the North Atlantic Conference semifinal round at Spartan Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.