SALEM, Mass. – The Castleton men's soccer team concluded their four-game road trip with a matchup against Salem State Tuesday afternoon, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Vikings.
 
Adolphe Alfani scored a pair of second-half goals for the Spartans (3-5-2, 1-1-1 LEC) — his second career multi-score game — while Jonathan Maul made a career-high 15 saves in net in his first loss of the season. Castleton was outshot 24-11 in the contest, with Salem State (6-4-1, 2-1 MASCAC) also holding a 13-0 advantage in corners.
 
The Vikings jumped out to an early 2-0 lead just 10 minutes into the game on a pair of goals from Hounane Walaeddine. The Spartans had a golden opportunity to cut the deficit at the 15-minute mark after a penalty was called in the box, but Jacob Henderson's attempt would miss wide, keeping it a 2-0 game.
 
After allowing the two early goals, Maul picked up his play for the remainder of the half, saving turning five shots away to bring his save tally at the half to six and hold Salem State's lead to just two entering the break.
 
The second half kicked off with a bang, as Alfani took just 47 seconds to score his first of the day, heading a long ball from Lucas McCane past the Vikings' goalie and in to cut the lead to one. The sides would draw level less than two minutes later on Alfani's second goal, this time coming on a feed from Gonzalaiz Arakaza.
 
The sophomore's two scores upped his season tally to four to pace the team, while Arakaza now shares the lead in assists at two.
 
After a series of substitutions, Salem State's offense took over, rattling off four shots and five corners over the next 15 minutes before taking the lead once again in the 63^rd minute. Insurance goals in the 85^th and 89^th minutes ballooned the Vikings' lead back to three, and handed the Spartans the 5-2 loss at the final whistle.
 
Castleton resumes conference-play Saturday, October 8 with a matchup against Eastern Connecticut State. Kickoff for the home match is set for 3 p.m.