CASTLETON, Vt. – Maggie McKearin notched a pair of goals for the Vermont State University Castleton women's soccer team as the Spartans fell short against league-leader Southern Maine, 5-2, on Saturday.
The first of McKearin's scores was unassisted as Alexis Billings earned a helper on the second. Emma Ezzo and Amaya Rogers split time in goal with Ezzo saving nine shots and Rogers recording two denials.
The Huskies (13-1-4, 6-0-2 LEC) grabbed the lead on an Eliza Roy tally in the contest's ninth minute, but VTSU Castleton (5-12-1, 1-6-1) held off the visitors for the rest of the opening half thanks to five Ezzo saves and an outstanding defensive stop by Gwen Bridges.
USM's Cierra Hill netted her first goal of the season ten minutes into the second half as the Huskies began to roll in substitutions. A 67th-minute goal kick booted by Rogers got the Spartans possession in their offensive end. Pepin chased a ball down the sideline and sent a pass up to McKearin, who slipped past a defender and blasted a long ball into the net.
After minutes of midfield play, the Huskies put the gap out to two scores thanks to a dart from Riley Reitchel. Just moments later, Billings saw a shot hit the crossbar but McKearin controlled it and headed in her fourth goal in three games. Despite persistence by the home team, USM added two more goals in as many minutes to finalize the contest at 5-2.
The Spartans conclude their season at home tomorrow, October 29 against New England College. It doubles as the squad's breast cancer awareness game with a small ceremony taking place shortly before the noon kickoff.
