Wilder, Carberry score two goals each for Panthers

            CASTLETON, Vt. – Sophomore Kaitlyn Wilder (Framingham, Mass.) and senior Sam Carberry (Shrewsbury, Pa.) scored two goals apiece Wednesday afternoon to lead the Plymouth State University field hockey team to a 5-4 non-conference victory over Castleton State College at Spartan Stadium.

            The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half, and held a 4-1 advantage early in the second half before the Spartans staged a comeback. Castleton scored back-to-back goals to cut the margin to 4-3 with 15 minutes remaining, but Carberry's second of the game pushed the Panther lead back to two goals with seven-and-a-half minutes to play.

            That came in handy when Castleton scored again with 1:23 on the clock, but time ran out on the Spartan comeback and PSU held on for the win. The Panthers are now 2-1 on the season while Castleton drops to 0-3.

            Freshman Anna-Michelle Fabian led the Spartan scoring attack with two goals, while Kristy Pinkham added two goals and one assist. In net, senior Jess Galatioto made an impressive 17 saves.

            Castleton peppered the Panther cage early but were unable to connect and Plymouth State struck in the 13th minute. Sophomore Kendal Lariviere (Dover, N.H.) sent a cross to the middle for Wilder and she finished off the play for the 1-0 lead. Just under 12 minutes later the Panthers added to their lead on a beautiful shot by Nikki Garvey (Canaan, N.H.), as the senior ripped a shot from the far wing that went into the top corner past Galatioto. PSU pushed its lead to 3-0 on a nice backhanded shot from just inside the top of the shooting circle by Carberry with 7:28 left in the half. 

            The Spartans got on the board with 3:45 left in the first half as they earned a penalty stroke and Kristy Pinkham knocked in home for the goal. 

            Wilder extended the Panther lead to 4-1 five minutes into the second half off a pass from Garvey. Fabian trimmed the deficit to 4-2 four minutes later after receiving a cross from Pinkham in front.  Fabian made it a one-goal game as she snuck a shot in at 54:58.

            One minute later, Briana Bocelli nearly had a goal but was denied by freshman keeper Alivia Bates (Pennsauken, N.J.). Castleton cut it to one again, 5-4, with just 1:23 left as Pinkham had a shot deflect slightly off a defender and hit the back of the cage. Neither team was able to get a shot off in the final minute.  Bates stopped 18 shots in total for PSU.

            PSU returns home for its first home game and the Little East Conference opener Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Arold Field against Worcester State University. The Spartans also return to action on Saturday when they travel to face Mount Holyoke at 12 p.m. 

(With contributions from Castleton Sports Information) 

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