CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton men's soccer team hosted Rhode Island College in the opening round of the LEC playoffs Tuesday afternoon, conceding a pair of goals in each half in a 4-1 loss.
 
The Spartans started off the afternoon on the back foot, allowing a pair of corners in the opening 10 minutes of the game before surrendering the game's opening goal in the 12^th minute off Rhode Island's third corner.
 
Castleton was quick to respond however, leveling the game in the 18^th minute after a free kick from Lucas McCane found the head of Gonzalaiz Arakaza to make it 1-1. The star freshman wraps up his first year sharing the team lead in goals (5) and finishing second in assists (4) en route to a team-high 14 points.
 
Just over a minute would pass before the Anchormen retook the lead on yet another corner. Rhode Island continued to pepper the Spartans with shots, but Andres Soto-Burgos was there to make three of his seven saves to bring Castleton into the half down just one.
 
Despite the Spartans' efforts to bring the game back, the Anchormen added another pair of goals in the 71^st and 74^th minutes to make it a 4-1 game and knock Castleton out of the playoffs.
 
The Spartans historic 2022 season comes to a close with a record of 7-10-2 and 3-5-1 in-conference, their most wins in both categories since entering the LEC in 2018.