Standish, ME - The Saint Joseph's College field hockey team defeated Castleton State 3-2 as the best start in recent program history continues. The Monks improve to 3-0 overall while Castleton stands at 3-2.

Despite wet field conditions, the teams were locked in a defensive battle during the first half and both keepers made tremendous saves. The Spartans went up 1-0 after JR Carolyn Griggs (Lincoln, VT) scored off a rebound at 11:06. Castleton threatened again but SJC keeper FY Kathleen Simoes (Wakefield, MA) made back-to-back saves to keep the Monks close at the break.

St. Joe's came out stronger in the second half, holding a 12-2 advantage in shots. Castleton keeper JR Trisha Clark (East Dover, VT) came up big with eight saves in the half, including two off of shots by JR captain Gina Gaetani (Auburn, ME) and FY Kayla Nowell (Bridgeton, ME).

FY Sarah Flore (Springfield, VT) gave Castleton a 2-0 lead with a goal at 46:12, but SO Julia Ostrowski (Albany, NY) converted a pass from Gaetani on a penalty corner to score for St. Joe's just over a minute later.

The Monks continued their impressive play and execution on penalty corners as FY Courtney Rague (Old Orchard Beach, ME) sent a great cross to JR Kelly Emerson (Vassalboro, ME), who found the back of the net to knot the score at 2-2.

SJC controlled play for the next five minutes and, after several quality scoring opportunities, Rague scored the game-winner off a pass from SO Jessica Baker (Scarborough, ME).

The momentum shifted and the Monks defense fought off a furious Spartan effort to tie the game. Simoes made two impressive saves in the final two minutes but when she was pulled away from the net with a minute to play, JR Lauren Snow (Dover-Foxcroft, ME) had a defensive save to preserve the lead.

Simoes had 4 saves for St. Joe's while Clark finished with 12 for the Spartans.

The Monks host UNE on Wednesday, September 12, at 4 p.m. and Castleton hosts Becker on September 15, at 2 p.m.