POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's soccer team turned in another strong performance Tuesday night with a 2-0 shutout of SUNY Potsdam.
Maggie McKearin tallied the afternoon's first goal and earned an assist on a second-half strike by the Spartans' (5-10-1) top scorer Rylee Pepin. Alexis Billings extended her team lead in helpers with her fourth assist coming on McKearin's dart.
Between the posts, Amaya Rogers had a phenomenal outing with a career-high 12 saves as the Fayston, Vt. native earned her second clean sheet of the year.
Holly Cudmore ripped the green and white's first shot in the 16th minute that got saved, but the Spartans kept the ball in their offensive end. Maddie Lindgren sent a feed to Billings who dribbled toward the box, launching a shot that got deflected toward McKearin. The local product from Proctor, Vt. slid a boot past the keeper to go ahead 1-0.
First-year defenders Kristina O'Neil and Gwen Bridges blocked shots taken by the Bears (3-10-2) in the 34th and 45th minutes to preserve a Spartan edge through the opening 45.
Rogers fended off seven SUNY Potsdam attempts, then the visitors' offense started to click again midway through the second stanza. A long ball from Lauren Fotter was gathered by Bear goalie Savannah Bowie and two VTSU Castleton shots were stopped by the defense. An 85th-minute breakaway saw McKearin deliver a pass in front of the net to Pepin. It was deflected, but the junior forward adjusted and squeezed a shot inside the right post.
The Spartans are back at Dave Wolk Stadium on Saturday, October 28 to face Southern Maine. Kickoff is at noon.
