NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- The Castleton University women's soccer team, opening up the 2020-21 season, earned a 1-0 Little East Conference (LEC) victory over UMass Dartmouth Saturday afternoon at Cressey Field.
 
With both teams holding strong on the defensive front, the Spartans (1-0, 1-0 LEC) struck first and took the lead at the 21:00 mark of the first half. Julia Carone scored past goaltender Jaimee O'Brien after Rylee Nichols sent a perfectly placed pass through the Corsair (0-1, 0-1 LEC) defense. Carone, who scored her first goal of the season, recorded her 50th-career point, which ranks second-best on the team.
 
Alex Benfatti earned the start in goal for the Spartans and kept the Corsairs off the score sheet in 90 minutes of action. Benfatti finished the game with eight saves while O'Brien collected five saves for the Corsairs.
 
Castleton returns to action Wednesday, April 4, as it takes on Plymouth State at Dave Wolk Stadium in a Little East Conference matchup starting at 7 p.m.