Castleton’s field hockey team is coming off a historic season last year taking home their first ever LEC championship in school history.

The Spartans, already at 5-1 and on a four-game winning streak, have high expectations coming into this season as they defend their title. Head coach Emily Lowell is ready to take on the challenge to build off the successes of last season.

Lowell and the team weren’t expecting to have the championship run last season until they started off strong in conference play. This year, the returning team has set their goals on another championship and to go further into the NCAA tournament.

“When the preseason poll came out having us win again, we realized it wasn’t just us that knew that we could do it again. It was other teams,” stated Lowell.

Lowell put on more nationally ranked teams on the schedule this season to play better competition and to have a spot in the top 25 ranked teams. The team treats every game like they are playing a ranked team as they play each game as their last.

Lowell believes playing higher competition for non-conference games will prepare them better for conference play. Building on their confidence was a problem last year and Lowell wants to slowly build upon it before heading into conference play.

Senior Emily Harris adds to that, talking about team’s game planning.

“We have developed a style of play which teams have to prepare to play against us rather than us preparing for them. With all the depth we have on the team, it allows us to stay fresh and ready to compete in every matchup,” Harris said.

Lowell believes there’s a different culture compared to last year and junior midfielder Ameilia Wilson agrees.

“I think one of the biggest factors that’s working so well for us this year is togetherness out on the field. Instead of playing individually, we work together, and it has led to more success as a team,” she said.

The team brought back many members of their championship roster from last year’s team only graduating three seniors.

Sophomore Zoe Martin returns as their goalkeeper having 44 saves on the year with two shutout performances. Maggie Schwartz has been a lockdown defender as the sophomore earned LEC defensive player of the week.

Another player who has been lighting it up on the field is the star forward Harris. After last year’s amazing performance scoring 35 goals, she has already scored 22 in the first six games of the season. Already receiving three LEC offensive player of the week awards, she wrote her name in Castleton history by breaking the program scoring record with 87 career goals. She passes the record of former goal queen Rachel Preusser, set back in 2013.

Harris feels amazing achieving such an honor like this and made it a goal at the end of last season.

“When I saw the record book, hitting this goal was very rewarding to me. I am also very grateful for all my teammates I have played with to make this goal possible,” she said.

The team recently showed that field hockey is bigger than a game when the team had a cancer dedication game against Bridgewater State. Haley Lassen’s family was honored at the game and the Castleton community showed lots of support for her mother, Barb. As locals to

Castleton, the support poured in during this difficult time and was much needed for the family. Lowell shared that it was probably the most amount of people to show up to a Castleton field hockey game.

“It took a lot of strength for her to come out and play the game that she did. I don’t think a lot of people could do that and it shows the type of person that she is,” Lowell said of Lassen.

The game raised over $6,000 for the Foley Cancer Center and will be dedicated in honor of Barb. There were 41 baskets that were donated and raffled away from local business like the Bomoseen Lodge and other families. T-shirts, bracelets, and stickers were also made to add to the donations.