Vikings Lose 4-3 to Spartans

Castleton, Vt. -- Salem State rallied from a 4-1 deficit, but came up short as Castleton held on for a 4-3 win in Little East field hockey action on Wednesday evening at Dave Wolk Stadium. The Spartans rise to 6-9 and 4-5 in the LEC while the Vikings slip to 6-7 and 4-5 in conference.

Trailing 4-1 in the third, Mackenzie Schmink and Julia Paulino scored back-to-back goals less than three minutes apart to cut the deficit to just one goal. However, Salem State managed just three shots in the final frame as backup goalie Hannah Frittenburg secured the lead with two saves as Castleton held on for the one-goal victory.

Kaitlin Bardellini made it 1-0 in the first for the Spartans before Kimberly McCarthy got the ball at the far post and scooped it into the cage for her second career goal, giving Castleton a 2-0 lead. Alexia Hamilton put the Vikings on the scoreboard when she knocked home a loose ball in front of the net in the 26th minute, making the score 2-1 at the half. 

Emily Harris scored back-to-back goals two minutes apart early in the third to stake the Spartans to a 4-1 lead. 

The fourth started out slowly for both sides, but with five minutes left in regulation the Vikings turned the pressure up. The Spartans back line fought off two penalty corners and three shots from Salem State in the span of a minute to hold onto their one-goal lead, eventually regaining possession and running the clock out to earn the 4-3 win

Maddi Leduc earned the win in just over forty minutes of action without making a save. Kelli McCarthy made four saves for the Vikings.