GORHAM, Maine — The Castleton field hockey team knocked off No. 1 seed Southern Maine Saturday to win the Little East Conference Championship for the first time in program history.

Emily Harris scored a first-half goal before Haley Lassen issued the game-winning dagger in the fourth quarter. Zoe Martin racked up 11 saves with one goal allowed.

The Huskies (15-8) controlled possession in the early going, drawing five corners in the first period alone. Harris redirected the ball into the Spartans' (14-7) hands with a 12th-minute strike, her 34th of the season. Each of three ensuing Southern Maine corners came up empty to keep Castleton ahead through 15.

With stakes at their highest, both squads' defenses locked down to begin the second quarter. An opportunistic corner in the 25th minute saw Haley Corlew find Harris but the Brit had two shots saved.

The Spartan offense had trouble finding scoring chances coming out of halftime as the Huskies brought a renewed passion to their play. Stuffing two corners and firing an on-target shot at the opposite end, USM tied proceedings 1-1 with 2:21 left as Adelle Surrette cut through the defense.

As the Huskies knocked on the door and threatened to take the lead, Martin showed her presence between the posts and denied six shots on goal. Back-to-back Kimberly McCarthy corners in the 57th minute culminated in Lassen taking a ball out of the air, tossing in the game-winner from feet away.

The Spartans are locked into their fourth NCAA Tournament in the modern era and will learn their opponent on Sunday, November 6 at 10:30 p.m. during the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Selection Show.