After making both coaching and conference changes this season, the women’s lacrosse team is currently 2-3 early in its season. Mary Kate Scardillo, last year’s women’s lacrosse graduate assistant, who also coached the Spartans women’s volleyball team in the fall, replaced coach Tammy Landon.

“I have learned a lot about being an effective leader from Tammy over the past two seasons, and we will look to build on the strong foundation she has in place,” Scardillo said in a prior interview.

The team also made a conference switch this season, leaving the New England Women’s Lacrosse Alliance in favor of the Northern Atlantic Conference, where they will compete with Maine Farmington, Thomas, Colby-Sawyer, Husson, New England College and Green Mountain College.

“We have a lot of new teams in our schedule,” said Scardillo. “We are excited to be playing a different schedule and competing against new opponents.”

In its most recent play, Castleton played RPI in Troy, N.Y., where the Engineers defeated the Spartans 16-6.  RPI sophomore Marissa Page scored a game-high five goals, leading her team to the victory with seven other players contributing to the victory.

In just the first four minutes of play, RPI’s Meg Colitz and Julia Wright each put a goal on the board. Castleton tied the game at two shortly after when Sarah Clark and Amanda Flodstrom, who was recently named NAC East Player of the Week, each rocketed shots in the net. Unfortunately for Castleton, it only took RPI a few seconds to retaliate with Page’s first goal and three more for the engineers.

Eventually, the Spartans were lacking by a ten goal difference and were running out of time. With just two minutes left in the game, RPI’s Michelle Denny scored to top off the 16-6 final score.

This game puts the Spartans at a 2-3 record. Castleton has yet to play in a conference game, though.

RPI improves to a perfect 4-0 record.

The Spartans next home game is March 29 at 4 p.m. when they’ll face off against Plymouth State.