MANSFIELD, Conn.- The Vermont State University Castleton field hockey team took on Eastern Connecticut State on Tuesday evening in the first round of the Little East Conference Tournament. The Spartans led 3-0 in the first quarter but the host Warriors rallied with five unanswered goals to stun Castleton and win by the score of 5-3.
The Basics
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Final Score:Â East Conn 5, VTSU Castleton
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Location:Â Rick McCarthy Field | Mansfield, Conn.
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 Records: VTSU Castleton 7-11 | East Conn 10-8
How It Happened
The Spartans went up 1-0 7:29 into the first quarter as
Allison Friel (Belfast, ME/Belfast Area HS) scored off an assist by
Caitlin Connolly (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson). Just over three and a half minutes later, Connolly scored herself with
Gwyn Vincent (Hoosick Falls, N.Y./Hoosick Falls Central) assisting. With 24 seconds left in the quarter, Vincent connected with Connolly again to give Castleton a 3-0 lead. The Spartans led 5-1 in shots in the quarter.
The Warriors got on the board less than two minutes into the second quarter. Castleton had a pair of shots on goal that were turned away by East Conn keeper Kate Paradise. East Conn notched its second goal at 20:07 to make it a 3-2 contest. Exactly three minutes later, the game was tied at 3-3. The Warriors took the lead with less than 40 seconds remaining in the quarter as they went into halftime up 4-3. Shots favored East Conn 6-3.
Both defenses stood firm in the third quarter. The teams had one shot on goal each. The Warriors went ahead 5-3 at 48:45 of the fourth quarter. Castleton continued to attack and got four shots on frame turned away by Paradise. The Spartans last shot attempt came at 57:43 but it was again turned aside by Paradise.
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By the Numbers
• The Spartans had a slight edge in total shots 14-13 and in shots on goal
• East Conn led in penalty Corners 7-6
• Connolly finished with two goals and two assists. In the last two games, she totaled 10 points (3g, 4a)
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Izabella Cosden had three saves
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