The first couple of weeks are done and the small college with a big heart is doing well on the athletic fields and trails, but the question I ask is can they keep it up?

            The Spartans put on an offensive showcase in a 35-7 bruising of Plymouth State. While senior Shane Brozowski put on a four touchdown, 400-yard performance, the most impressive thing was the Spartans defense. The last time the Spartans held a team to under 10 points was in 2010 when they defeated Becker 53-6. However the whole Spartans team had a hiccup at the hands of Endicott, losing 66-14. Will this make or break the Spartans?

            Last season the men’s soccer team was one minute away from forcing overtime and possibly reaching the NCAA tournament when Husson University scored off of a long throw in to end the Spartans season. There is not a doubt in my mind that this is still resonating in their heads. At 3-0 already, the Spartans are looking like a team on a mission – a mission to beat Husson. With a strong nucleus of returners, such as Nick Johnas, and Trevor Kotrady, they could be heading for the big time this year –the NCAA tournament.

            The woman’s soccer team graduated four-time NAC player of the year, Courtney Chadburn amongst others. This makes this years Spartans team very young. Out of the whole roster, 11 are freshman. They have showed that they are young in this early season at 2-2, but have also shown great signs for the rest of the 2012 season. In Saturday’s 2-0 win over Smith College, two freshmen Emily Osmer and Mallory Costello scored goals for Castleton. The future looks bright for this Spartan team.

            The field hockey team lost a heart breaker last year 1-0 at the hands of Husson in the NAC semifinals. This should be set in their mind if they want to make it past the NAC tournament this year.

“We are definitely the team to beat this year,” said Junior defender Shannon Burns. Ranked number one in the preseason NAC poll, the team has set the bar high. “

If we continue to beat our tougher non-conference opponents, we have a chance to be ranked”

            And while all these sports get a lot of attention, one sport every fall that doesn’t is the Men and Woman’s cross-country team.  Both the men and women’s teams swept the Castleton Invitational. This could be due to a tough preseason schedule. Their schedule included spending the night at the Amee Farm in Pittsfield, where they did a Spartan Race course. Both teams carried 30-40 pound buckets of gravel up a 1.6 mile mountain.

            This weeks Spartan Standout goes to Deanna Tyson. Tyson was just named the ECAC female administrator of the year. I had a chance to catch up with Tyson, who was “very surprised and had no idea” she was getting the award. She also mentioned to me, that a lot of credit goes to President Wolk and the Administration, for allowing her to accomplish what she has done at Castleton. Thanks, Deanna.

Until next time Castleton, keep on keeping on.