CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton rugby team took on New England College Sunday afternoon, cruising to 14-5 and 31-5 victories on the back of a career-day from senior Hannah Coupas.
 
The Pilgrims (2-7) struck first in the day's opening game, returning the Spartans' kickoff for the try, but missed the conversion to keep it a 5-0 game. Castleton (3-1) would respond a few minutes later off Coupas' first try of the day.
 
Pamela McCullough found herself with the ball after a clean Spartan ruck and passed it to a streaking Coupas, who received the ball and took it down the left sideline for the score. Haley Conway would make the conversion attempt to give Castleton the 7-5 lead entering halftime.
 
New England College controlled much of the second half, but excellent tackling by the Spartans all over the field kept it a 7-5 game, and as time expired Castleton's lead would grow to seven off a Saidi St. Andrews try. Conway converted on the kick and the Spartans would claim Game 1, 14-5.
 
The script in Game 2 was completely different, as Castleton came out of the gate quickly, taking the early lead and never looking back. Their first score came from NEC's opening kick-off, as Coupas once again took the ball down the left sideline for the score, making it a 5-0 game.


After missing her first conversion of the day, Conway would take matters into her own hands, finishing a long drive to double the Spartans' lead, but they weren't done yet. On the last play of the half, Coupas struck again off another feed from McCoullough, giving the senior her third try of the day and making it a 17-0 game after Conway hit the conversion attempt.
 
Coupas went back to work in the second half and scored her fourth and final try on the day just over a minute in, once again finding herself open on the left side and beating all of NEC's defenders for the score. The Pilgrims would find the try zone one minute later to prevent the shutout, but an Olivia Day try and Conway conversion would put Castleton up 31-5 and seal the victory, completing the sweep and giving the Spartans their third win over NEC.
 
Next up for the Spartans is a home matchup against Norwich Sunday, Oct. 17. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.