NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University women's lacrosse team had eight different players score at least one goal in the team's season home opener, but was unable to close out the win falling to Castleton University, 18-15, on Sunday afternoon on Sabine Field.

Norwich (0-1) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead within the first two minutes of the game as freshman midfielder Allison Sturgeon (Monticello, Ind.) and junior midfielder Kathryn Preul (Scottsdale, Ariz.) scored on direct runs to goal.

Castleton answered with a pair of goals from Erin Shuttle and Morgan Derosia to knot the game at 2-2 at the 23:20 mark of the opening half.

From there the teams would trade goals back and forth with sophomore attacker Kate Winstanley (Lansdale, Pa.) scoring her first of the game on a woman-down situation to even the score at 5-5 with 13:36 to play in the first period.

Castleton answered with four unanswered goals including three from Elizabeth Lumbra to grab a 9-5 lead.

The teams continued an offensive-dominated first half with Norwich closing the deficit to three goals at 12-9 heading into the break. Winstanley scored her third of the opening frame with Jordan Lutz (Hamburg, N.J.), Michaila Furchak (Nyack, N.Y.), and Emily Schromm (North Attleboro, Mass.) each netting their first goals of the season.

After Castleton's Lumbra scored her fifth of the game to open the second-half scoring, Norwich narrowed the score to 13-12 with a run of three-straight goals, two from Sturgeon and Winstanley's fourth of the game.

Castleton re-established its four-goal cushion with three-straight of its own as Shuttle, Derosia, and Megan Krumm each scored once for the visitors to make it 16-12 with 11:43 remaining in the game.

Unfortunately, Norwich was unable to string together several goals to reduce the deficit as Castleton's Raven Payne made several great stops late in the game to preserve the lead for the visitors.

Norwich held a slight edge in most statistical categories edging the Spartans in shots 42-36, out-hustling them for ground balls (25-23), and winning the battle for draws (20-13).

Castleton's Payne stopped 14 of 20 shots on goal to pick up her first win of the season. Senior goalie Lawson Hayes (Maple Shade, N.J.) made 10 saves against 27 shots on goal in the loss. Freshman netminder Amber McGinley (East Barre, Vt.) made one save against one goal in limited minutes between the pipes for the Cadets in her collegiate debut.

Winstanley led the Cadets with five goals picking right up where she left off during her outstanding freshman campaign in 2019. Sturgeon enjoyed a terrific collegiate debut registering a hat trick, five draw controls, three ground balls, and a pair of caused turnovers. Preul potted a pair of goals to go along with her team-leading seven draw controls. Senior midfielder Mary-Kait Mace (Canton, N.Y.) notched a pair of assists while posting the most caused turnovers in the game with four. Freshmen attackers Maddie Etherton (Johnstown, N.Y.) and Valentina Drown (Acton, Maine) each scored their first collegiate goals in their debuts.

Norwich will remain at home for its next game when it hosts Plattsburgh State on Wednesday at 4 p.m.