CASTLETON, Vt. – On the backs of an Emily Harris hat trick and some late game heroics from Tessa Rubocki, the Castleton field hockey team walked away with a 4-3 win over Fitchburg State in front of the home fans Saturday afternoon.
 
For the fifth straight game, it was the Spartans (5-9, 3-5 LEC) who opened up the scoring. On their second corner of the frame, Kaitlin Bardellini sent the ball in toward Harris, who combined with Madelyn Cote to get around a Falcon defender before slotting the ball into the far post to give Castleton the lead nine minutes in.
 
Three minutes later the Spartans would double their lead on Harris' second goal of the day. Haley Corlew brought the ball into Fitchburg's half and dumped it off to the sophomore who beat a defender and ripped a shot from just inside the circle into the far post to make it 2-0. The Falcons (1-13, 0-8 LEC) would get one back almost immediately from leading-scorer Emily Iacovelli, leaving Castleton with a 2-1 lead after one.
 
Fitchburg would score a second unanswered to open the second quarter, but there to respond and complete her hat trick at the 24-minute mark was Harris. This time it was Payton Barlow who had her shot blocked by Fitchburg's goalie, but waiting at the far post was Harris who snuck the ball into the net, giving her team back the lead and earning her third hat trick on the season.
 
Harris now sits a 21 goals on the year, placing her in sole possession of sixth place among the all-time list for scores in a single season. The sophomore sits six goals shy of the record with four regular season games remaining.
 
Castleton controlled much of the third quarter, outshooting the Falcons 8-1 and taking six penalty corners compared to zero for Fitchburg State, but were unable to extend their lead and entered the final frame up just one.
 
What started as an uneventful fourth quarter quickly turned as the Falcons once again found an equalizer, this time coming off a fastbreak that left goalie Maddi Leduc in a 2-on-1 situation. With five minutes remaining it looked as though the game was headed to overtime, but Rubocki had other plans.
 
On a fastbreak of their own, Barlow carried the ball down the right sideline and into the circle before sending it across the net. The ball went past several players and found itself at the near post where Rubocki was waiting. The junior took a touch and calmly slid the ball into the near post to put her team back on top and hand herself her first collegiate goal.
 
The score would also serve as the game-winner, as Castleton held possession of the ball over the last three minutes, giving the Spartans a crucial 4-3 win against a conference opponent.
 
Castleton will look to keep this momentum rolling in their matchup against Salem State Wednesday, Oct. 20. The game will be played at Dave Wolk Stadium with first pass set for 7 p.m.