CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton men's soccer team picked up its fourth North Atlantic Conference victory of the season on Saturday afternoon, defeating the University of Maine at Farmington by a final score of 4-0 at Spartan Stadium.

The victory gives the Spartans a record of 4-5-2 overall, and 4-1 in NAC matches. UMF falls to 2-9 on the season and 0-4 in the conference.

Four different Spartans scored goals on the day, including Paul Phillips—who tallied one goal and one assist for a game-high three points. Jack Kingdon, Dallas Desroches and Fidele Rutayisire also chipped in with scores for the Spartans. Dan Palker picked up the win for Castleton—his third of the season—while Aaron Parker also saw time. Neither goalie was tasked with making a save in the contest for Castleton.

UMF's Ronie Morales shouldered the loss, allowing all four goals before being relieved by Michael Pingree in the 83rd minute. Six different Beavers registered shots, but none could put one on target.

Castleton opened the scoring in the 22nd minute of play when Kingdon tallied his fourth goal of the season on an assist from Josh Mathews to make it 1-0 in favor of the hosts. Just five minutes later, the Spartans doubled their lead to 2-0 when Paul Phillips scored on a curling shot from the left side. After sending the ball in on a corner play, Phillips got the ball back from Thomas Kirk and let go a right-footed shot that clanged off the far post and in for his second goal of the season.

In the second half, the Castleton offense continued its offensive pressure, putting up two more goals. Desroches took a cross from the right side off the foot of Phillips and headed it past a diving keeper to push the Spartan lead to 3-0 in the 50th minute of the contest before Rutayisire's fifth goal of the season gave the game its final score in the 63rd minute. Rutayisire ran down a long lead pass from Nick Kaiafas and touched it past a sliding keeper to make it a 4-0 contest.

Castleton held a 23-6 shot advantage in the win, including a 13-0 edge in shots on goal. The Spartans earned four corners without allowing one for UMF, but recorded 15 fouls to UMF's 10.

The Spartans return to action on Sunday, hosting the first-place team in the NAC, Thomas, at 2:30.