The women's soccer team huddles up during a game earlier this season.
Photo contributed by Tori Pizzutto

The Castleton’s women’s soccer team finished its regular season at home on senior day with a tough 3-2 loss vs. Union College; however the Spartans have managed to lock up the #2 seed in the 2014 NAC Playoffs with an (11-7-1) record.

With that being said, the Spartans will have to sit and wait to see whom they will have to play on Wed. in the NAC Semi-Finals. With a first round bye, Castleton will have an extra few days to prepare, but will this help or hurt the Spartans going forward?

“I think it is going to be beneficial for us because it will give us some more time to prepare and it will give us some time to rest so we can put it all out on the pitch,” senior mid-fielder Jenna Bostwick said.

The Spartans seem very focused and understand what it is they need to do in order to win the NAC conference and reach their ultimate goal of entering the NCAA tournament.

“We need to come out with intensity and be focused,” Junior Mid-fielder Mallory Costello said. “We have to play to win and want to win. We need to move the ball quickly and switch fields quickly and provide good services to try and score. We just need to play with confidence and play to win.”

For Spartan seniors Blaire Hooper and Jenna Bostwick, this is a bitter-sweet moment as it will be their last opportunity to play in the post-season for Castleton. However, Bostwick is confident that when she leaves, the up and coming young talent will lead the Spartan program in a positive and successful direction going forward.

“The younger players have stepped up and contributed a lot for us this year. They are a great asset to our team and they are going to help our program stay strong for the future! I honestly don’t know what I would do without those girls! The twenty of them will always hold a special place in my heart and I’m going to be lost without them next year!”

As the Spartans prepare for the Semi-Finals, the focus and mentally of all 20 girls and their outstanding coaching staff intensifies as the team could not be more excited and anxious to get the ball rolling.