CASTLETON, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's lacrosse team tied its season-best offensive output on Tuesday evening, but it wasn't enough as Russell Sage College overpowered the Spartans 18-12 at Dave Wolk Stadium.
 
The Spartans (1-9) and Gators (3-8) were deadlocked at 8-8 at halftime, but a big third quarter from Sage pulled the visitors ahead for good. RSC had a 45-37 edge in shots and 34-20 edge in shots on goal in addition to a hefty 44-25 advantage in ground balls.
 
Cam Frankenhoff had a career day with five goals to his name while Ethan Esposito and Carter Frankenhoff had two goals each. Jordan Damske and Hunter Sarro also had goals. Asa Forbes snatched eight ground balls with three caused turnovers and Jonah Janaro added four ground balls. Chase Strychaluk made six saves over 25 minutes while Finn Maniaci and Zac Smith had five saves apiece as the Spartans split time in goal.
 
Nate Kettle had a game-high nine points on six goals and three assists while Shea Obado added eight points thanks to three goals and five helpers. Anthony Marrone scored four times. Gamo Koulibaly and Drew Rankin scooped nine ground balls apiece and Rankin added three caused turnovers. Andrew Collora stopped six shots and was credited with the win.
 
The Gators pounced early, taking a 2-0 lead through the first four-plus minutes before Castleton responded in a big way. The Frankenhoff brothers—first Cam and then Carter—scored consecutively to tie the game at 2-2. Sarro then notched a goal to put the Spartans ahead 3-2 and Damske closed the quarter with a late score for a 4-2 lead after 15 minutes.
 
Sage countered with a pair of quick goals to start the second and level the score at 4-4, but Cam Frankenhoff's second of the afternoon made it 5-4 Spartans. The Gators again pulled ahead with three unanswered goals for a 7-5 lead before Carter Frankenhoff scored on the man-advantage for a 7-6 score. Kettle pushed the gap to 8-6 but Cam Frankenhoff struck twice more going into halftime to make it 8-8 at the break.
 
After trading goals to a 9-9 score to open the third, the Gators rattled off six unanswered goals for a 15-9 lead. With just seconds left on the clock in the third, an own goal by Russell Sage College gave the Spartans another tally to make it 15-10 going to the last.
 
The elder Frankenhoff scored his fifth of the day to open the quarter and make it a four-goal game, but a pair of scores by Sage pulled the Gators ahead 17-11 with less than seven minutes to play. Esposito scored Castleton's last goal with 3:12 to play and Sage capped it with the final marker at 2:33.
 
VTSU Castleton is back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Salem State at Dave Wolk Stadium.