KEENE N.H. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's soccer team shutout Keene St. 3-0 on the road Wednesday evening.

Junior Emma Ezzo highlighted the contest with a new career-high 17 saves against the Owls. Maggie McKearin tallied her second multi-goal game of the season and Mallory McKenna bagged her first career goal in the Spartans victory. 

VTSU Castleton took the field at Owl Athletic Complex in search of their second Little East Conference win of the season. Keene's offense tested Ezzo early with four shots on goal to set the tone of the match.

Keene outshot Castleton 30-11 but it was the Spartans who capitalized on their opportunities. Castleton's first goal came from Becky Hannwacker rifling a shot from the top of the box with Keene's goalie making the original save but McKearin stuck with the play and found the rebounding save and knocked in the chance to give Castleton a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute.  

The Spartans gained the momentum and used it to their advantage to find a second goal in the 32nd minute coming from Rylee Pepin, who fed McKenna for a one-touch shot that drove past the keeper to extend Castleton's lead.

The Owls generated 20 shots in the second half to find an answer, but nothing could get past Ezzo and the Spartans' defense. The Spartans put the game away with Alexis Billings playing a through ball to McKearin, where she beat the keeper once more to finalize the score and move Castleton to 2-1 in conference play.

VTSU Castleton travels to Eastern Connecticut State University for a LEC matchup Saturday, October 5 for a 1 p.m. kickoff.