CASTLETON, Vt. -- The host Castleton State Spartans controlled play for much of the evening as they ran past the MCLA Trailblazers, 3-1, on Wednesady.

 

Castleton (3-2) jumped on the board first as Sarah Carlson scored her fourth goal of the season in the 20th minute after she corralled a loose ball and ripped a shot into the left corner for a 1-0 lead. The Spartans extended just three minutes later when Bri DiPhillipo launched a shot from 40 yards out that was perfectly lofted over Trailblazer keeper Katy Daly.

 

MCLA (0-3-1) responded with its only goal late in the half when Nicole Zacchio was the beneficiary of a loose ball in the Castleton zone and trimmed the margin to just 2-1 at halftime.

 

The Spartans kept the pressure on, and in the 72nd minute, Mallory Costello scored from inside the box to provide the final margin.

 

Castleton owned a one-sided shot advantage, outshooting MCLA 37-4 in the contest. The Spartans also owned an 11-0 edge in corner kicks.

 

Daly was busy in goal for MCLA stopping seven shots on the night. Castleton's Jessica Binkowski made one save in registering the shutout.

 

MCLA is back in action on Saturday when it travels to Elms College for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

 

WOMEN'S TENNIS

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The MCLA women's tennis program dropped an 8-1 decision at Western New England on Wednesday.

 

Mount Greylock Regional School graduate Mariza Sfakianaki earned the lone point in the fourth singles slot for MCLA (2-2). The freshman earned a hard fought point defeating Kelly Byrnes, 6-4, 6-1, 10-7.

 

The Golden Bears received strong performances from Lauren Sell, JoeAnna Glantz, and Christina Dagostino. Each earned a pair of points with straight set singles victories while Sell and Glantz teamed to take the first doubles point.

 

Rebecca Waterhouse put up a game effort in the fifth singles slot, but eventually fell, 6-2, 6-4.

 

The Trailblazers are back in action on Saturday when they open NAC play at Castleton State.​