Spartans Fall at Middlebury 2-1

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Castleton's men's soccer team fought back from an early, one-goal deficit, but it wasn't enough, as the Middlebury Panthers claimed a 2-1 victory this afternoon in non-conference action.

Tyler Bonini led the Panther attack with two goals, while Solo Felekeni added the lone Spartan score off a feed from Nihad Basic. The Spartans were outshot in the contest 22-7 and stand at 9-5-1 overall after suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season. Middlebury, meanwhile, improves to 8-2-1 overall with its second straight victory.

The Panthers jumped in front less than two minutes after kickoff when Bonini tallied his first score of the contest. Peter Davis and Daniel O'Grady provided the service on the play, as Bonini finished the ball near the far post to give the hosts an early one-goal lead.

Just over 15 minutes later, the game was back on level terms when Felekeni struck with his sixth score of the season. Basic's cross into the box fell to Felekeni, and the junior striker buried a shot just under the crossbar to even the game at one.

The two squads continued to trade scoring opportunities over the waning minutes of the first half until it seemed that Middlebury had finally broken the deadlock when Greg Conrad's header was on-target, but Amir Pasic made a fantastic, diving save to maintain the 1-1 affair heading into the break.

The Panthers came out of halftime pressing the Castleton defense, and after the hosts failed to capitalize on a pair of quality scoring chances, Bonini came through with the eventual game-winner at the 66:50 mark. Adam Glaser delivered a cross into the box from the near flank that Conrad flicked towards the far post. Bonini was there to head home Conrad's pass to secure a 2-1 victory for Middlebury.

In net, Pasic proved to be a dependable presence, once again, for the Spartans despite the loss, producing seven saves and stifling a number of other Middlebury scoring opportunities. Jeremy Yeager, meanwhile, picked up his first career win following a three-save performance in his debut.

The Spartans return to the pitch this Saturday as the nightcap of a tripleheader at Spartan Stadium.
 Castleton's football team opens the day by facing Gallaudet at noon followed by the field hockey squad, who faces Husson at 4:30 pm. The men's soccer squad will finish off the day by hosting SUNY Canton in non-conference action at 7 pm.