After a loss in last year’s conference semifinals, the Castleton field hockey team returned with six new players this season hoping for a conference finals appearance. But the early season schedule has proved a little difficult.

Despite NAC coach of the year Tammy Landon returning for her third year as the head coach, the team has gone 1-3

Picked fourth in the NAC pre-season poll, the Spartans’ season began on the road against Eastern Connecticut State. The game was scoreless until 1:10 remaining in the first half when sophomore Trishia Fellows’ goal gave the Spartans the lead.

Castleton continued to attack the Eastern Connecticut defense in the second half, tacking on another goal thanks to senior captain Carrie Black’s score. Castleton came out victorious 2-0 to start off the season with a bang.

The next three games did not go the way the Spartans would have liked them to.

Against Juniata College, the Spartans were dominated from start to finish and took a tough 5-0 loss. Goalie Trisha Clark stopped fifteen shots in a losing effort for Castleton.

The home opener matched the team up against Plymouth State in what turned out to be an exciting contest. Plymouth State got on the board only 23 seconds into the contest when Melanie Bates scored. The Spartans answered back with a goal by Carolyn Griggs, tying things up at one goal a piece.

Both Bates and Griggs then scored again for their respective teams and the score was tied 2-2 early in the second half. Unfortunately for the Spartans, the opposition would score three times in a five-minute span, including the third goal of the day for Bates.

Castleton would put another goal in the net, but the final score ended up 6-3 in favor of Plymouth.

The final game of the week was another home game, this time against the Ramapo Roadrunners. Castleton had trouble getting shots through Ramapo’s goalkeeper Jenna Fenninello, who had a shutout going until Carolyn Griggs scored with 15 minutes to play in the game.

Ramapo scored three times, with two coming from Devin Flynn, leading to the Spartans third straight loss and dropping their record to 1-3.