CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton women's rugby team put on a show in their home-opener Sunday afternoon, blanking NEC for the second straight week and winning by scores of 15-0 and 22-0 to give themselves the 2-0 decision.
 
Despite the ball hanging around the Spartans' (2-0) goal line to start the game, it was Castleton who took advantage of a penalty call to give themselves the early lead. Senior Hannah Coupas ran down a punt from teammate Natalie Simecek — blowing by the entire NEC (0-2) defense along the way — and brought the ball into the try zone to make it a 5-0 game.
 
The Spartans would double their lead three minutes into the second half off of Aubrey Tetlow's fourth try of the young season. Some nice passing from sideline to sideline put the ball in the junior's hands who crossed into the try zone nearly untouched to make it a 10-0 game. Tovah Coe tallied to final try for the Spartans as the clock expired in Game 1 to seal the victory.
 
Game 2 brought more dominance from Castleton, taking a 10-0 lead via two Coe tries four minutes in. The sophomore used her speed and strength to recover the loose ball and outrun the NEC defense for the scores. Tetlow would strike again in the second half, streaking down the left sideline for her second try of the afternoon, before Katelynn Dunn made her presence felt, bursting through the NEC backline, kicking the ball into the try zone and recovering for her first score of the year. After the try, a Simecek conversion would make it 22-0 and complete their fourth-straight shutout over the Pilgrims.
 
Through four games, the Spartans have scored 71 points and have yet to give up any, leading to the program's best start in its history. They will look to keep the momentum rolling as they head to New London, N.H. to take on Colby-Sawyer Sunday, October 3. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.