DANBURY, CT - Senior midfielder Aileen Maloney (Trumbull, CT) scored a pair of goals and the Western Connecticut State University women's soccer team registered five first-half goals on its way to a 5-1 victory over Castleton in the Little East Conference opener on Saturday afternoon at the Westside Athletic Complex.

Freshman Kaleigh Panek (Shelton, CT) put the Colonials on the scoreboard just 2:09 into the contest when she broke away from the Spartans defense and deposited her second goal of the season.

Maloney converted a penalty kick at the 3:01 mark for her first marker of the season.  A Castleton defender was whistled for a hand ball to warrant the shot from the dot.

Junior midfielder Bailey McCollum (Cold Spring, NY) put WestConn up 3-0 when she nailed a free kick from 45 yards out into the top right corner of the Spartans goal.  It was her second goal of the season.

In the 16th minutes, senior Lucy Daniels (Bethel, CT) notched her second goal of the year when she broke free down the right side of the box and beat Castleton goalie Loren Henderson (Rutland, VT).

Maloney closed out WestConn's scoring after McCollum set her up with a sharp pass 10 yards outside of the box.

"We needed a good result today and our starters made sure early that we were going to get one," said WestConn head coach Alex Harrison.  "After scoring goals on our first three shots, we were able to let off the gas a bit and get nearly the entire roster into the game today."

Senior back Kaitie Sanders (Chittenden, VT) scored off a free kick, 30 yards out in the 68th minutes, for the Spartans lone goal.

Alexis Lainchbury (Hopewell Junction, NY) earned the victory in goal for WestConn.  She made one save before heading to the bench in the 76th minute.

Freshman Samantha Camacho (Bridgeport, CT) came on for the final 14:53 and registered her first two collegiate saves for the Colonials.

Henderson made four saves for the Spartans, now 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the Little East Conference.

WestConn, also 2-4 overall, but 1-0 in the league, play host to Farmingdale State on Wednesday, September 19.  Game time with the Rams is set for 6 pm.

Castleton welcomes New England College on Tuesday, September 18 for a non-conference, 7 pm tilt.