Starting off their weekend in Maine, the Castleton men’s soccer team fell to Husson 4-1 in a rematch of last years NAC championship game.

            There were several scoring opportunities early in the game. CSC freshman Danny Favreau went one on one with Husson goalkeeper Brian Potter, but Potter knocked the ball out from under Favreau’s feet as he came out to challenge the play.

            Husson’s Phil Frost scored the Eagles first goal, heading the ball off a free kick played by James Crockford. Just two minutes later, Frost scored another with his head off a throw in from Andrew Austin to give his team the 2-0 lead.

Castleton’s Blake Hart put the Spartans on the board minutes later giving them a one-goal deficit heading into halftime.

In the second half, Jacob Erskine slid the ball right past CSC’s Nate Koenemann to make the score 3-1. Late in the half, Patrick van Dessel scored the final goal off a rebound to finish the game at 4-1.

Koenemann had 12 saves for the Spartans, while Potter made five saves for the Eagles.

“Maine weekends are always tough, but this might have been the toughest for me in my four years here,” Castleton senior Ian Hunter said.

The following day, the Spartans came up short again, this time in double overtime. Abdullah Alkhayyat drilled a shot past Koenemann in the late in the second extra period to end the game at 3-2.

Earlier in the game, Nicholas George started off the scoring for Maritime when he received a pass from Alkhayyat and drilled it into the net. Later, Zac Conlogue scored Castleton’s first goal off a penalty kick.

In the second half, Bryce Kaler netted the Spartans second goal to make the deficit 2-1. Benjamin Russell came back with a rebuttle for Maritime to send it into OT.

Koenemann made six saves, while Maritime goalie William Lacour made 11.

“We didn’t accomplish our goals but playoffs are soon, and that’s a whole new ballgame,” Hunter said.

The Spartans look to improve their 9-6 (3-4 NAC) record after a tough weekend on Oct. 17when they travel to Johnson State.

Hunter added, “I have a feeling we will catch fire at the right time.”