The Men’s Spartans soccer team kicked off their first Little East conference game against Rhode Island College (RIC), but sadly came up short falling 3-2. Rhode Island College started strong scoring in the fourth minute of the game and continued the lead with another goal in the 17th minute. 

Toby Ritzkowski, responded quickly in the 26th minute of the game, cutting the deficit to one just before the half. After taking the half to readjust, both teams started strong in the second half. 

RIC got their third goal of the match in the 56th minute to extend their lead by two. The Spartans reacted once more by Jacques Alfani late in the game, but it wasn’t enough to come back and win it all. The Spartans recorded their first LEC loss of the year. 

Following their tough loss to Rhode Island College, the Spartans were prepared to take on Norwich University at our home turf, Dave Wolk Stadium. VTSU Castleton was prepared to alter their methods. 

They grasped control of the game and had the ball early on, creating opportunities in Norwich’s half, but they were unable to translate those opportunities into goals. The Spartans fought despite Norwich’s goal in the game’s 32nd minute.  

The rest of the game was very even on both sides with good opportunities for both teams. Tanner Curtis and Nate Lurie hit hard efforts that just slightly went over the crossbar. 

Junior, Tanner Curtis expressed his thoughts on how this game went south for the team. “It was a tough fought game; we weren’t clinical enough in front of the net to even the score line. The score line doesn’t reflect on how we have been playing, and the team feels prepared moving into the thick of the season. They ended the game1-0 with another loss. 

VTSU Castleton faced their second Little East conference game this Saturday at Western Connecticut University. With lots of grit and tenacity the boys came out to put the wolves to rest but was not accomplished. 

WestConn came out aggressive to start which surprised the Spartan men, 5 minutes into the game the Wolves got a penalty kick to start their goal scoring streak. Putting it in the left side of the net, just past goalkeeper Xander Berthiaume, the Spartans were forced to chase the ball for the majority of the game as WestConn continued to play swiftly around them. Westconn scored with a header off a corner kick to seal the 2-0 halftime lead. 

After intercepting a VTSU pass at the 10-yard line and sending it to the upper corner of the net, Westconn took the opportunity to score once again. The Wolves scored a fourth goal, sending the Spartans scrambling. Westconn received their second penalty kick of the game and buried it in the goal. 

Sophomore Will Ambruso has commented on the penalty kicks stating, “We had a couple unlucky calls by the ref that resulted in penalties that they capitalized on. The Spartans were able to put a long-grounded ball into the net by Stanly Anderson, but it was enough to make an impact, there for the Spartans lost 5-1. In the end, this hard-working team is not defined by this loss, “The team worked hard, and it wasn’t our day.” said Will Ambruso. 

Overall, the Spartans won’t let these last couple defeats stand in their way of accomplishing their goals this 2024 season. “We are ready to bounce back and make a statement in the LEC”, Tanner Curtis states. We are hopeful that the Spartans can make a comeback from these losses and turn it into a learning opportunity to better themselves.