CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton University women's lacrosse team took to the field for the second day in a row on Sunday, falling in a tightly-contested game to University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 13-9.
 
The Spartans (0-2) were outshot 30-21, including a 23-13 margin in shots on goal. Saint Joseph (1-2) had a 30-27 edge in ground balls and committed 33 turnovers to Castleton's 41. The Spartans were 19-of-31 on the clear, and the Blue Jays were 20-of-33. Castleton held a 14-12 edge in draw controls in the contest. Both sides scored on free-position goal and one player-up goal in the game.
 
Castleton was led by four goals from Kimberly McCarthy, while Maddie Brasser had three scores and an assist in the game. Lacey Greenamyre assisted three separate goals and grabbed nine draw controls, while Katie Opiela had one goal and one assist. Madely Cote also scored for the Spartans. Cote grabbed a team-high six ground balls, followed by Greenamyre and Raven Payne's four ground balls. Payne also made 10 saves in goal for Castleton in the contest. Erlande Georges had a strong game defensively, causing four turnovers and collecting three ground balls. McCarthy and Colleen Sheridan each caused three turnovers in the game.
 
Makenzie Dinger and Jenna Banta had five goals apiece for USJ, with Cayleen DeFaranos, Ana Nogueira and Maya Tomko adding scores as well. DeFaranos had two assists for the Blue Jays. Kate Miranda had eight ground balls, followed by Tiajah Rose's six and Banta's five. Banta led her team with four caused turnovers and seven draw controls.
 
The Spartans struck first for the second game in a row, as Opiela found the back of the goal just 36 seconds into play. The Blue Jays answered to tie the game at 1-1, but Brasser scored her first of three goals on the day to make it 2-1 Spartans. USJ responded with a three-goal run to move ahead 4-2, midway through the opening quarter, but a goal by McCarthy cut the deficit to just 4-3 after the first 15 minutes. Banta scored the only goal for either team in the second quarter, giving the Blue Jays a 5-3 lead at halftime.
 
Castleton scored the first two goals out of the break—both from the stick of McCarthy—knotting the game at 5-5 with 6:26 to play in the third quarter. The Blue Jays pulled ahead by one with five minutes to play in the frame, but Cote answered for Castleton just 31 seconds after the Blue Jay goal to make it a 6-6 score. USJ tallied one final goal in the third quarter to take a 7-6 lead into the final 15 minutes.
 
The lead didn't last long in the fourth quarter for the Blue Jays, as Brasser scored her second goal of the day just 16 seconds into the frame to level the score once more, 7-7. The Blue Jays again put together a three-goal run, taking a 10-7 lead, but McCarthy snapped that streak with her fourth goal of the day for Castleton to make it 10-8 with 8:33 to play. The Blue Jays won the ensuing draw control and scored just 11 seconds later, but Castleton again hung tough as Brasser made it a two-score game once more with a free-position goal. Brasser's third goal of the day made it 11-9 Blue Jays with 8:03 to play. USJ pushed the lead back to three with 6:49 to play, and added one final goal with 2:20 left in the contest to seal the final score, 13-9.
 
"We just didn't quite have the legs today on the second day of a back-to-back," said head coach Jamie Blake following the contest. "The entire team played iron solid lacrosse for a full 60 minutes for the second day in a row, playing with grit, hustle, enthusiasm and joy. This team is having fun competing alongside one other, and we know what we are capable of moving forward after a great weekend to kick off the 2022 season."
 
Castleton is back in action Wednesday afternoon against Colby-Sawyer. Opening draw is slated for 4 p.m. at Dave Wolk Stadium.