The Spartan women’s soccer team put up one out-of-this-world statistic after another during the second half of the 2009 season, making it seem like an unstoppable force. Husson University, though, proved that the lady Spartans were human after all as it stopped the Spartan hot streak cold, defeating Castleton 3-1 in the North Atlantic Conference championship game on Nov. 8.Castleton entered the championship game as the number one seed in the tournament. Castleton hadn’t lost a game since Sept. 16. More importantly, though, was the way the Spartans had beaten their opponents. The Spartans blew the competition out of the water, winning seven out of their last 12 games by three or more points. The Spartan defense was also amazing as it did not allow a goal to be scored against the team in conference play during the regular season.

But maybe putting up ridiculous stats like the Spartans did isn’t always a good thing.

Husson, which was the preseason favorite to win the NAC, came onto the field hungry to avenge a crushing 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Spartans on Oct. 11.

That hunger paid off quickly when Megan Clement chipped a perfect corner kick into the far side of the goal box over all of the Castleton defenders just 11 minutes into the game. Her teammate Amy Sanz found a way around her defender and sprinted into the box just in time to get a leg on the ball while it was still in the air. Her missile of a shot screamed with speed into the back of the net, breaking the Spartans’ streak.

The shot also appeared to break the Spartans’ confidence.

Husson had done something the Spartans hadn’t seen all season-score a goal against them on their new home turf. While playing from behind in a NAC game for the first time this season, the Spartans seemed overly anxious, and they saw the championship title slip out of their grasps as Husson scored one more goal just before halftime and another goal just after halftime.

With their confidence gone, the Spartans did have chances to get back into the game. Unfortunately, Husson’s goalie, Jen Plourde, stopped every shot the Spartans could put on goal. Her only error on the day came when she picked up a ball that her defender had kicked back to her.

The result was an indirect kick and Courtney Chadburn’s 24th goal of the season.

The Spartans continued to play hard while the minutes clicked off the clock and off their season, but there was no stopping Husson. The Eagles were going to get their revenge.

Just a week later, the Spartans received an invitation to the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament, where they squared off against Brandeis University.

The Judges, looking to win the tournament for the third year in a row, handled the Spartans easily as they outshot Castleton 28-6. Brandeis also contained the Spartan offense, wining 3-0.

With the loss, Castleton ended the season with an 11-7-2 record.