Albany, NY—The Spartans of Castleton University opened the 2021 campaign with a 2-1 win over the Gators of Russell Sage College on Wednesday night at Albany College of Pharmacy Athletic Complex. With the victory, Castleton is now 1-0, while RSC drops to 0-1.

Castleton scored their first goal of the match just before the half as sophomore forward Charlie Cisneros (Leesburg, VA/Riverside) scored on a the corner kick as senior defender Noah Swainbank (Enosburg Falls, VT/Enosburg Falls) fired the ball in from the right side.

RSC tied the action as senior forward Jeaneste Pierre (Newburgh, NY/Newburg Free Academy) was awarded a penalty kick in the opening minutes of the second stanza after a handball was called in the box.

Pierre now has 14 career goals and 32 career points, both of which stand seventh on the Gator career record list. 

Swainbank would score the game-winner on a pass from junior Jacob Henderson (Rutland, VT/Rutland) on a scorer taken on the right side as Swainbank fired the ball from about 8 yards out past RSC's keeper sophomore Tyler Brennan (Albany, NY/Shaker) to the upper right side for the tally, his first of the year. For the game, Brennan finished with six saves in dropping to 0-1, while Castleton's junior keeper Andres Soto-Burgos (Bronx, NY/Salesian) made 10 saves with 1 goal allowed and stands at 1-0 on the young season.

RSC is back in action on September 4 hosting Manhattanville College at ACP Stadium at 4 p.m.