CASTLETON, VT – Castleton State College (6-4, 4-0 NAC) blanked Saint Joseph's College (8-1, 3-1 NAC), 3-0, in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) field hockey action on Saturday afternoon.

Kristy Pinkham finished with a pair of goals and Rachel Preusser notched two assists to give the Monks their first loss of the season. Jess Galatioto notched seven saves in net for the Spartans while her counterpart Emma Astbury (Bridgewater, Vt.) turned away three shots.

The Spartans took an early 1-0 lead with a goal from Pinkham. The junior entered the top of the shooting arc without a Saint Joseph's defender to pressure her. With space, Pinkham ripped a shot that found the back of the goal to put the Spartans up a goal in the 2nd minute of play.

At the 21:17 mark a pair of Castleton seniors connected to extend the Spartan lead. Rachel Preusser burned a defender on the right flank and crossed a ball into the goalmouth area. Blake Wardwell reached out a deflected it with her stick just past Astbury and into the goal to make the score 2-0.

The Spartans added to their tally in the second half with another Pinkham goal. In the 58th minute, Castleton lined up for a penalty corner. Preusser teed up the ball and sent a laser pass to Pinkham at the top of the arc. The junior took a touch and hammered the ball past Astbury to put the Spartans up 3-0.

Galatioto and the Spartan defense withstood a late flurry from the Monks to preserve the shutout. With just over five minutes remaining the Monks rattled off six shots on goal, with Galatioto turning away five of them, and Stacy Sullivan made a defensive save to keep the St. Joe's tally at zero. The Spartans have strung together three consecutive shutouts and have not allowed a goal in four games of conference play.

Saint Joseph's will play at Lasell College on Wednesday at 4:00 PM, while Castleton hosts Springfield College on Wednesday.

COURTESY OF CASTLETON STATE COLLEGE

Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.