WLAX Suffers Home Loss Against Castleton

NEW LODNON, Conn. – The Castleton University women's lacrosse team handed Mitchell College a 22-2 loss on Saturday afternoon.

The Spartans, who picked up their first victory of the season, led 9-1 after the opening quarter and never trailed at any point. Kimberly McCarthy set the pace with a game-high total of 10 goals, while Madelyn Cote tallied five goals and four assists. Phoebe Loomis also notched a hat trick and Lacey Greenamyre potted a pair of goals for Castleton, who outshot the Mariners 41-9.

Additionally, the Spartans won the ground ball battle 40-30, went 15-16 in clearing opportunities, won 18 of 28 draw controls, and forced 35 Mitchell turnovers.

Mitchell's offense came from junior Jessica Krupnikoff (Farmington, Conn.), who netted her fifth and sixth goals of the season. Hannah Gomes (Groton, Conn.) played all 60 minutes in the cage and finished with 11 saves. 

Maddie Brasser opened up the scoring one minute and 13 seconds into the game and then assisted on Cote's first goal just over a minute later to give the visitors a quick 2-0 advantage. Castleton then scored six more goals over the ensuing 10 minutes, before Mitchell fired back with a tally by Krupnikoff, but the Spartans responded by scoring once more in the opening frame and five more times in the second period to carry a 14-1 edge into halftime.

Castleton scored three more goals in the third quarter, two by McCarthy, before firing home two more in the final stanza until Krupnikoff scored off a free position shot with six minutes remaining in the contest.

Katie Opiela played 45 minutes in the net for Castleton and finished with three saves. She was relieved by Maddie Brasser, who recorded one save in 15 minutes of work.

Krupnikoff led the Mariners with seven ground balls and three caused turnovers, while Gomes and Lauren Cordero (Selden, N.Y.) scooped up five ground balls apiece.

The Mariners (1-2 overall) will return to action on Wednesday, March 22, when they travel to MCLA for a 4:00 pm start. Castleton (1-3 overall) is scheduled to host Colby-Sawyer College on Monday, March 20.