DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Behind a goal in each quarter, VTSU Castleton powered its way to victory over UMass Dartmouth in Little East field hockey regular season finale action on Saturday at Cressy Field. The Spartans, who earned the 5-0 victory, clinched the fourth-seed in the upcoming playoffs, moving to 10-7 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The Corsairs, who wait on other games to finish in the LEC, is now 3-14 overall and 1-5 in the LEC.
Sophomore defender Maggie Schwartz opened the game's scoring at 12:57 after she converted a great pass from classmate and fellow blueliner Jess Smithson. The Spartans made it a 2-0 contest into the second quarter as Smithson earned her second helper of the game, connecting with junior Amelia Wilson as she punched it in past
Hannah Trombly.
The Corsairs had a solid chance in the closing minutes of the second quarter as junior forward
Harley Hodge inserted the ball on the penalty corner. Senior midfielder and captain
Maggie Doherty was there to drop it in on goal, her shot saved by sophomore keeper Zoe Martin.
Out of the intermission, the Spartans upped the score to 3-0 as senior forward Emily Harris – the DIII leader in goals and points per game – notched her 42nd of the season on a brilliant backhanded shot that caromed past Trombly at 44:38.
In the fourth quarter, Harris struck once again, driving in another unassisted tally for the 4-0 margin. It was a flurry of action soon after as the Spartans put five shots on goal that were all kick-saved by Trombly, while rookie
Sophia Bouffard notched her 13th defensive save of the season.
Despite the defensive hold, the Corsairs were unable to stop the Spartans for one more tally as rookie midfielder Madison Gile punched the ball in off a quick pass in front by sophomore middie Genevieve Pitts.
The Spartans saw Martin earn the victory, recording one save over 60 minutes of play. Trombly shouldered the loss with nine saves as Bouffard added the defensive stop.
