Spartans Shoot Past Maine Maritime 18-2

Photo is courtesy of Castleton University

CASTLETON, Vt. – The Spartans scored just 20 seconds into regulation and didn't look back on the way to a dominant 18-2 victory over Maine Maritime on Saturday afternoon in Spartan Stadium.
Castleton outshot the Mariners 43-9 in the contest and picked up 31 ground balls while causing 17 turnovers to improve to 7-5 and 5-0 in the North Atlantic Conference. Maritime picked up seven ground balls and did win eight draw controls but fell to 0-12 and 5-0 in conference action.

Senior Brianna MacKay recorded her 50th goal of the season as she scored six times on seven shots
with an assist to lead the offense. Grace Johnson and Megan Wood each added one goal and two assists while Holly Downing chipped in a pair of goals. Katie Feeney supplied one goal, one assist, four draw controls and one caused turnover.

Junior Briana Obshatkin scored both of the Mariner goals in the contest while Haley Eckert had five draw controls. Sierra James took the loss in net, but was impressive with 18 saves and 18 goals allowed.

Castleton won the opening draw and MacKay went right to the goal for a 1-0 lead just 20 seconds into the contest. Johnson added a goal less than two minutes later, and MacKay scored twice more in the opening ten minutes for a 4-0 lead. Obshatkin cut the deficit to 5-1 at 18:22, but the Spartans scored the final seven goals of the half for a 12-1 advantage at the break.

MacKay, Hannah Braman and Ashley Pelkey each scored in the first ten minutes of the second half to extend the lead to 15-1. Wood, Feeney and Downing provided the final three goals and Obshatkin managed one more for the 18-2 final.

Senior Meghan Els earned the win in net, giving up one goal on one shot in the first half. Freshman Samantha Hebb was impressive with four saves with just one allowed in the final 30 minutes.

The Spartans return to action on Wednesday when they travel to face New England College at 4 pm.