CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton University men's soccer team concluded the 2020-21 season Friday evening, falling 3-0 to Eastern Connecticut State in a Little East Conference (LEC) contest at Dave Wolk Stadium.
 
The Spartans (0-4, 0-2 LEC) fell behind in the 24th minute of the first half as the Warriors (1-1, 1-1 LEC) found the back of the net for the first tally of the game. With the Warriors controlling the pace of play, Joseph Lopez scored his first goal of the season, a rocket from outside the 18-yard box past a diving Alex Fernald to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
 
Fernald, who played in his final game for the Spartans, finished the game allowing just one goal while recording six saves in 61 minutes of action. The senior from Phippsburg, Maine finished his four-year career accumulating 101 saves while earning six wins backstopping the Spartans' defense.
 
As the Spartans continued to find ways to even the scoring, the Warriors broke away and doubled the lead in the 72nd minute. After the Spartans failed to clear, Ryan Sirois sent a curling right-footed shot from outside the 18-yard box that beat goaltender Andres Soto-Burgos, extending the Warriors' lead. Sirois, who also tallied an assist, had a team-high three points in tonight's contest.
 
A third goal was recorded late in the game as Caleb Ennin blasted a low shot past a diving Soto-Burgos in the 88th minute to solidify the victory for the Warriors.
 
The Spartans finished the game with four shots on goal as Kevan Flanagan and Ben Stewart both tallied two.
 
With the 2020-21 season coming to a close, Castleton will have the majority of the roster return for the upcoming season while only losing two members due to graduation.