PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The higher seeds prevailed in the opening round of the 2025 Little East Conference (LEC) Field Hockey Championship Tournament Tuesday, as No. 3 University of Southern Maine downed No. 6 Plymouth State University and No. 4 Vermont State University Castleton cruised to victory over No. 5 Western Connecticut State University.
 
No. 3 Southern Maine 1, No. 6 Plymouth State 0 - Box Score
 
Bri Townsend scored the only goal of the match midway through the third quarter to send the Huskies (12-9) past the Panthers (5-12) in the late game Tuesday. Her 12th goal of the season was an unassisted tally.
 
Eleanor Folsom turned away each of the four shots on goal she faced to earn the victory in goal for USM. Natalie Merrick turned away 11 shots while taking the loss in goal for Plymouth State.
 
Southern Maine held a 15-12 edge in shots for the game, with an 11-5 advantage in shots on goal. The Panthers held am 8-7 margin in penalty corners.
 
No. 4 Vermont State Castleton 6, No. 5 Western Connecticut 1 - Box Score
 
Ava Laross posted a hat trick to lead the Spartans (8-10) to victory, with her first goal of the contest in the 13th minute proving to be the difference maker. Her final two goals of the match came in the closing minute as Castleton pulled away late to seal the win, giving her nine for the season by the end of the contest.
 
Jess Smithson got the Spartan on the board in 9:29 into the contest off a feed from Brooke Noble, giving Castleton a lead it would never relinquish. Laross set up Genevieve Pitts tally five minutes into the second quarter, giving the Spartans a 3-0 lead.
 
Alyssa Montalvo got WestConn on the board with 1:23 remaining in the second after being set up by Kylie Dishaw. Her eight goal of the season proved to be the only score of the contest for the Wolves (7-11).
 
Zoe Martin earned the decision in goal for Castleton after making five saves in her 60-minute effort. Jaden Kilmer took the loss in goal for WestConn after making three saves and allowing three goals over the opening 24 minutes of the contest, while Gabriella Johnson had seven stops and three goals allowed over the final 36 minutes of action.
 
The Spartans will next head to top-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University for Thursday’s semifinal round. That match is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.