Rivier's Chiara Skeels (1) celebrates a goal with a teammate during the Raiders' rout of Castleton at Merrill Field on Tuesday. (Courtesy photo by Kyle Prudhomme/Rivier Athletics)

NASHUA — The Rivier women’s lacrosse team defeated Castleton 17-5 at home in a non-conference matchup on Merrill Field on Tuesday evening.

The Raiders moved to 3-2 on the season while Castleton remained winless through six contests.

Sarah Lachance would get the scoring started for Riv, launching in the first goal of the contest just 24 seconds in. Lachance would go on to tally another two goals in the first 15 minutes. Three more Raiders recorded goals as Ashley Wilder, Sofia Cebrero, and Caitlin Newell each scored. Castleton was only able to score one goal in the first, as the Raiders led, 6-1, heading into the second.

In the second quarter the Raiders put away five goals while limiting the Spartans’ offense to two. Rachel Hinkley was up first with an unassisted goal at 14:27. Hinkley then found Lachance for her fourth tally of the contest less than a minute later. On a player-up opportunity, Cebrero recorded her second goal of the game. Castleton scored their second goal of the contest at 8:55 to cut the deficit to seven. At 6:44 Newell rolled in a Rivier goal to make it 10-2. Generated by a free position opportunity, Castleton was able to grab a goal to make it a seven-goal deficit again before Lachance reached the back of the net from an Alysha Hok assist with seven seconds left in the half, increasing the Raiders lead to 11-3.

Going into the second half with an eight-point lead, the Raiders continued to put the pressure on the Spartans with back-to-back goals from Newell. Castleton earned their fourth goal of the game at 4:22. Wilder finished off the quarter with an unassisted Riv goal to make it 14-4.

Three Raider goals were scored in the fourth while allowing the Spartans to put away the final goal of the contest making the score 17-5, which would remain until the final buzzer.

Lachance racked up a team-best eight points with five goals and three assists while Newell recorded another five goals for the Raiders.

Lindsey Kruger made six saves in goal for Riv, with Lily Gifford making an appearance in net for the fourth quarter.

Rivier outshot Castleton, 29-16.

The Raiders will face Simmons on Saturday, March 23 on the road at Daly Field for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Divisional clash.

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