The score looked familiar, but much more was on the line this time around. The men’s lacrosse team fell 11-10 in overtime to Mount Ida Saturday. Just two weeks prior, the Spartan scoreboard read the same after the Mustangs handed Castleton its first North Atlantic Conference loss. This time it wasn’t just a conference loss. It was a championship loss.

With the win, top-seeded Mount Ida claimed its fourth consecutive NAC championship. The second-seeded Spartans were unable to stop the Mustangs, who have not loss in 29 match-ups against NAC members, from continuing their 11-game winning streak.

Coach David Wiezalis’ squad took a quick 2-0 lead and was up 6-2 halfway into the second period. But by the end of the first half, the Spartans were holding onto only a one-goal lead.

Andrew Cloonan tied the game at 6-6 for Mount Ida just over three minutes into the third period. The Spartans gained the lead back off a Jake Rick goal less than a minute later. However, Leo Shidler and John Lightbown answered with consecutive goals to give Mount Ida its first lead (8-7). Adam Rosati found the net one-minute later to keep the Spartans even with the Mustangs at the end of the third.

Rosati opened the scoring in the fourth, but Lightbown tied it with just under six minutes left and Anthony DiMarsico gave Mount Ida a 10-9 lead with 2:12 remaining. But with 34 seconds left, the Spartans sent the game into overtime after Geoffrey Walker capitalized on a power play.

The Mustangs won the opening face-off in overtime and following their timeout, Cloonan netted the game-winner 36 seconds in.

Rosati led the Spartans with four goals while Robbie Scanlon had two goals and an assist. Goalie Michael Mamunes made nine saves. For their efforts, Matt VanDerKar, Rosati and Alex Brown were named to the All-Tournament team.

Despite the loss, Castleton (10-5, 6-1) is eligible for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament for which first round games begin today.

Women’s Lacrosse
Despite a hat trick by Stephanie Pearce, the Spartan women fell to Worcester State 16-6 in the New England Women’s Lacrosse Alliance semifinal match-up.

The Lancers started the scoring 25 seconds into the game. Pearce tied the game for the Spartans, but Worcester answered with five straight goals for a 6-1 lead at just over the six-minute mark. Pearce’s second goal couldn’t give Castleton any drive as Worcester found the net three more times before the half.

Continuing to outshoot the Spartans, the Lancers opened the second half with another three goals before Pearce stopped the momentum. Aimee Goulette, Nicole Bouchard and Erin Barry each contributed a goal for Castleton in the final 12 minutes, but Worcester answered with its own three goals to maintain the advantage.

The Spartans ended its season 5-2 in the NEWLA and 6-6 overall, the most wins in the history of the program.