WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Castleton State University got goals from Rylee Nichols (Mill River/Clarendon, Vt.) and Hannah Coupas (Northville, N.Y.) as the Spartans posted a 2-1 win over Westfield State University in a non-conference women's soccer match at Alumni Field on Wednesday night.
Coupas' tally in the 63rd minute proved to be the game winner, as Bronwen Hopwood (CVU/Hinesburg, Vt.) slid the ball to Coupas from the left side, about eight yards in front of the goal. Coupas lifted a shot just inside the left post for the goal.
The Spartans took a 1-0 lead just 3:55 into the game. Kinnan Latremore (Chazy, N.Y.) hit a looping ball from the right side to the top of the box, where Nichols was able to settle the ball, spin and fire to the far post.
Westfield tied the game at 1-1 midway through the first half, as junior Bella Eduardo (Chicopee HS/Springfield, Mass.) took a pass from Marissa McGue (North Quincy/Quincy, Mass.) near the top of the penalty area, and lifted a shot through traffic off the remnant of a corner play to the left upper 90.
The two teams dueled throughout the match. Castleton had a 19-17 advantage in totals shots and a 10-9 margin in shots on goal. The Spartans had the best of the offensive pressure, forcing seven corner kicks to the Owls' two.
Westfield's Natalia Falcone (Sutton, Mass.) and Castleton's Loren Henderson (Rutland, Vt.) made eight saves each.
Westfield falls to 1-2 on the season, while Castleton improves to 1-2.
The Owls will be back in action on Alumni Field on Saturday with a 3 p.m. match against the University of New England.