Castleton, VT- The Keene State College field hockey team defeated Castleton State 4-2 on Thursday to pick up its first win of the season.   Junior forward Carly Benning (Brewster, Mass.) opened the scoring just over one minute into play as she carried the ball up the left sideline and beat the Castleton defense for her first goal of the season. Just over six minutes later, senior captain, Elizabeth Rand (Peterborough, N.H.) punched home her first of the season to make it 2-0. Freshman forward Elizabeth Coffin (Sugar Hill, N.H.) scored her first collegiate goal just over one minute later, to give the Owls a 3-0 lead and force Castleton to use its timeout.

With 12 minutes remaining in the first half, Spartan sophomore Sarah Flore put Castleton on the board. Senior Carolyn Griggs cut the lead to 3-2 with just under 13 minutes to go in the game. Griggs sent home a Trishia Fellows assist after Keene State defender, Alyssa Rowell (Queensbury, N.Y.) made a defensive save in a flurry of action in front of the net. Castleton made a push to tie the score, but Keene State sophomore, Chelsea Blackmer (Boylston, Mass.) put home an insurance goal of a Leigh Smith (Sanbornton, N.H.) assist to put the game out of reach.


Castleton battled back from an early 3-0 deficit, and made it a one-goal contest in the second half, but it was not enough as Keene State earned its first victory of the season.

"I thought we picked it up offensively today," said KSC Coach Amy Watson.  "It was nice to get on the board early and not having to play catch-up."

Castleton goalie, Trisha Clark stopped eight shots as the Spartans fall to 1-2 on the season. Keene State improves to 1-1 as junior goalie Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.) made one save in the win. Castleton is back in action on Saturday when the Spartans play host to University of New England at 1:00 pm.  Keene State (1-1) plays host to Vassar on Saturday at 2:00 pm.