CASTLETON, Vt. – Vermont State University Castleton field hockey beat Eastern Connecticut 5-2 Tuesday night to advance to the Little East Conference semifinals.
No. 4 VTSU Castleton defeated No. 5 Eastern Connecticut in the LEC quarter finals on Tuesday night at Dave Wolk Stadium.
Kimberly McCarthy got the Spartans rolling in the beginning, capitalizing off a rebound to secure the first goal of the game. Moments after McCarthy's goal, senior forward
Emily Harris took on the Warriors defense and successfully came out of it with a solo goal to extend the lead to two.
The Spartans would maintain a 2-0 lead heading into the 2nd half of the match. Warriors' Grace Barlage, who leads the team in goals and points this season. Got the energy shifted for the Warriors with a set up pass to Kaylee Drobish, who tallied here first goal of the season to bring the Warriors back within one.
With the energy being shifted in favor of the Warriors, Castleton looked for a response to the Warriors surge and they would get that response by winning capitalizing off a penalty corner.
Amelia Wilson put the ball into play towards
Jess Smithson, Smithson connected with Harris who then sent a returning pass to Smithson, who found an open Wilson far post to bury the set piece opportunity.
The Spartans gained the momentum once again and didn't let up after Wilson's goal.
Maggie Schwartz would send a beautifully played ball into Harris' stick from distance, leading to Harris scoring her second of the night. Barlage would score a goal off a penalty corner opportunity in the final minutes of the game to try and spark one more comeback opportunity but Harris would shut that down once again, with her hat trick goal to send the Spartans to the next round.
VTSU Castleton will travel to Gorham, ME to take on No. 1 Southern Maine on Thursday, November 2 at 4 p.m.
