SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Castleton women's soccer team could not withstand an offensive outburst by Skidmore on Thursday evening, dropping its season-opener by a final score of 7-3 on the road.

Jessica Binkowski made nine saves for the Spartans in the contest, while Bronwen Hopwood, Makenzi Bellando and Izzy Hutnak scored goals for Castleton in the contest.

Three Thoroughbreds tallied two goals apiece, as Emily Saliterman, Emily Mendes and Jemimah Cochrane led the way for Skidmore.

Skidmore held a 25-14 total shot advantage, as well as a six-to-three edge in corner kicks.

The Thoroughbreds got out to an early 2-0 lead, striking in the second minute and the 19th minute. Hopwood cut the home team's lead in half in the 24th minute with an unassisted strike to make it a 2-1 contest.

A goal by Skidmore's Mendes—her second of the contest—later in the 24th minute pushed the lead back to two goals in favor of the home team. Castleton kept battling, as Bellando tallied her first career goal to pull the team back within one in the 36th minute. Once again, however, Skidmore had an answer. Just more than 60 seconds later, Emma Basso made it a 4-2 lead for Skidmore, a score that held until the half.

Coming out of the break, the Thoroughbreds continued their offensive pressure. Saliterman netted her second of the game in the 57th minute, followed by a 73rd minute goal by Cochrane to make it a 6-2 score. Hutnak found the back of the net for her first-ever collegiate goal in the 81st minute to make it 6-3, but it was too little, too late as Castleton conceded one final goal just 27 seconds later to give the game its final score.

The Spartans are back in action on Saturday when they host Plymouth St. in a non-conference matchup at Spartan Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.