October 29, 2006

Castleton Ends Season With Quarterfinal Loss

Newton, MA- Sophomore Elise McLear (Swansea, Mass./Case) recorded a pair of goals to propel the third-seeded Mount Ida College women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over sixth-seeded Castleton State College this afternoon in North Atlantic Conference Tournament Quarterfinal action at the Mount Ida Athletic Stadium.

With the win, the Mustangs (12-7-0, 9-3-0 NAC) advanced to the NAC Semifinals, where they will meet second seeded Husson College.

Husson advanced by way of a 5-0 triumph over seventh-seeded Bay Path College today. The semifinal matchup will take place at Husson on Wednesday beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Castleton, the leagues reigning tournament champion and top ranked squad in the preseason, rounded out its 2006 campaign with an overall mark of 9-9-2. The Spartans went 7-4-1 against NAC foes during the regular season.

Neither team scored until the 71st minute, when McLear blasted a shot past Castleton junior goalkeeper Kim Allen (Newtown, Conn./Newtown) from 30 yards out to put Mount Ida in front 1-0.

Freshman Sarah Reaber-Spina (Starksboro, Vt./Mount Abraham Union) scored off a feed from junior Erin Hanlon (Hoosick Falls, N.Y./Hoosick Falls) less than two minutes later to knot things up at 1-1.

McLear then tallied the winner off a free kick in the 86th minute to boost the Mustangs to their first NAC Tournament victory since 2002, when they advanced to the Conference title match. McLear's team-best ninth goal of the year was also her fourth match-winner of the season.

Mount Ida freshman netminder Kyle Garvey (Queensbury, N.Y./Lake George Central) stopped two shots en route to her ninth win of the fall. Allen made four saves in the contest. [Box Score]

***Spartans***