In the early half of the season the Castleton men’s lacrosse team had started off on a rough note, going 1-9 in the first 10 games. However, in recent days, the team has entered a final stretch of games that can determine its playoff fate.

The Spartans in their last four Little East Conference games are 2-2 with wins against Salem State and University of Southern Maine, both below them in the LEC standings. In the two loses over that time, the team fell to Keene State and Plymouth State, who sit at number one and three in the LEC standings, respectively. 

Over the course of the four-game stretch, Castleton has turned to goaltender Chase Strychaluk, who was named LEC Rookie of the Week as well as LEC Goaltender of the Week in the four-game stretch. 

“I think right now we need to play consistently because there are stretches in games that are good, but if we are falling asleep for a few moments, then the game can get out of hand,” Strychaluk said. 

Throughout the four-game stretch, the team has averaged just below 10 goals a game putting up 37 goals. The team has been led by the trio of Carter Frankenhoff, Cam Frankenhoff and Hunter Sarro, who have contributed to 66 of the teams 117 goals on the season. 

“I feel like we have the tools to compete on an everyday basis, which in the past years, we have struggled with. But in this final portion of the season, we need to put it together for a full game and not just parts of games,” Sarro said. “We can keep up with the top teams when we are on top of our game, and everything is firing on all cylinders if we do it for a full 60 minutes.” 

Under first year head coach Ed Stephenson, the team has taken a different approach to building a new culture for the lacrosse program. 

“My main focus has been on establishing a mature athletic culture; putting we before me, more process focus versus outcome focus, and being intense versus emotional. We’ve made some progress, but we still have a ways to go,” Stephenson said. 

While the team has had its struggles in the win department, the Spartans have already surpassed the prior seasons conference wins and nearly have passed the total goals scored on the season with two games left in regular season play.

Castleton closes out the regular season on the road against Eastern Connecticut State University on Friday April 26 before playoffs. The team will be battling to maintain its sixth seed spot in the final week of the season to have a playoff berth.