CASTLETON, Vt. – Fueled by Emma Patrissi's brace and Alexis Billings' trio of assists, the Vermont State University Castleton women's soccer team finished its 2023 season with a powerful 6-1 rout of New England College Sunday afternoon.
The Spartans (6-12-1) put together a full team effort with all active players getting significant minutes – nine recorded at least one point. Patrissi scored twice while Rylee Pepin and Becky Hannwacker contributed one goal apiece. Maddie Lindgren and Lauren Fotter found paydirt in the victory for the juniors' first career goals. Billings had three assists in the first half alone as Maggie McKearin, Brytney Moore, and Jordan Mattison each logged one helper.
Amaya Rogers got the start between the posts and turned aside one NEC (5-12-1) shot as Emma Ezzo saved two attempts in the final 45 minutes.
Pepin got the scoring started in the sixth minute with a high, curving shot into the net off a setup feed from Billings. The Carver, Mass. product distributed another tally minutes later, swiping a ball popped up by the Pilgrims and connecting with Fotter who launched from nearly 25 yards out. The shot tipped off the goalie's hand and just inside the upper-left corner for the junior defender's first collegiate score. A corner kick in the 19th minute taken by Billings fell into the six where Lindgren jumped and headed in the first goal of her three-year career.
A lull in scoring to end the first half and coming out of the break was dashed in the 64th minute by a wide-open Hannwacker who delivered a left-footed dart past the keeper's reach to put the lead out to 4-0. NEC got one back soon after as Catie Wheeler lifted a shot into goal that tipped off Ezzo's glove and into the crossbar. Riley Vachon collected the rebound and tapped in the Pilgrims' lone score of the day.
VTSU Castleton responded immediately as Moore sent a picturesque cross into the box for Patrissi whose head tap directed the ball into the twine. With time ticking down, Mattison deflected a pass between Pilgrims to a sprinting Patrissi as the sophomore shedded a defender and blasted a no-doubter, securing her first career brace and a season-ending victory.
Despite midseason woes, the Spartans concluded their season with three wins in the final four contests to close the campaign on a positive and promising note.
