NEW LONDON, N.H. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's lacrosse team opened the 2024 season on Saturday afternoon, falling on the road to Colby-Sawyer 21-6.
 
The Chargers (2-1) outshot the Spartans (0-1) 38-18 overall and 29-10 on goal. The Spartan defense was active, causing 14 Charger turnovers on the day and collecting 12 ground balls. Colby-Sawyer controlled the draws in the game, winning 23-of-30 chances and nabbing a 37-12 edge in ground balls.
 
Megan Ward and Tien Connor each had three points for the Spartans in the contest, with Ward notching an opening-day hat-trick and Connor chipping in a goal and two assists. Gianna Geraci and Kimberly McCarthy added goals as well and Phoebe Loomis picked up an assist. Ward and Colleen Sheridan had three ground balls and three caused turnovers each while Geraci led the team with four caused turnovers. Liv Cormier made eight saves in goal for the Spartans.
 
Three players had five points each for Colby-Sawyer, with Soph Kuhlthau, Andrea Smith and Rose Finlayson all scoring three goals with two assists. Heather Hanson had seven draw controls and AJ Paton made four saves in goal.
 
Colby-Sawyer jumped ahead 3-0 in the first two minutes, but the Spartans buckled down and kept the Chargers off the board for the next seven minutes before Ward got VTSU Castleton on the board. Colby-Sawyer poured in six more goals before the end of the opening quarter to move ahead 9-1 after one.
 
Geraci made it a 10-2 game six minutes into the second with her first career goal, and Ward scored her second of the day on a woman-up opportunity just before halftime to make it 12-3 at the break.
 
After the Chargers scored first coming out of halftime, VTSU Castleton rattled off three straight goals beginning with a woman-up strike from Connor. Ward followed with her third goal of the day and McCarthy made it 13-6 with a goal of her own midway through the third quarter. Colby-Sawyer tightened up on defense and regained its offensive rhythm from there, shutting out the Spartans the remainder of the contest while pulling away.
 
The Spartans return to action next Saturday, March 9, when they travel to Russell Sage College at 1 p.m.