Sean Hantes scored in the first half and Steve Welles in the second half as the University of Rochester defeated Castleton State College, 2-0, in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championships at Edwin Fauver Stadium.

The Yellowjackets (14-2-2), ranked 10th in the current NSCAA Division III poll, will play eighth-ranked Messiah College (17-2-2) at 6 pm Sunday in the tournament's second round. The winner advances to the Sweet 16 next weekend. Messiah defeated Medaille College, 2-1, in overtime.

Hantes scored a goal four minutes into the match. Welles doubled the lead with just under 20 minutes to play when he headed in a corner kick from Phil Proud.

“It was great to get a goal early,” said Rochester head coach Chris Apple. “We were going to keep up the pressure.”

Hantes carried the ball across the top of the penalty area, then spun and whistled a low shot past a defender's legs and into the lower right hand corner at 3:46. It came just before the dive of Castleton goalkeeper Mike Anthony.

“It was a great shot,” admitted Castleton coach John Werner. “It hit the turf and increased its speed. Mike (Anthony) usually gets those.”

“I had the ball at the top of the box,” Hantes said. “I took another touch and took a rip.”

Castleton played in the NCAA tournament for a second straight year after winning the North Atlantic Conference tournament title. “It took us a while to get our legs under us,” Werner said. “They're (Rochester) an outstanding team.”

The Yellowjackets pressed for a second goal to break it open early. With just under 29 minutes left in the first half, Anthony made a point blank save on a header by Josh Richards after Clif White hooked it in front from right wing. Hantes figured in another chance. Dominic Pellingra tapped a free kick past the wall and Hantes rushed toward it, only to shoot wide right.

Castleton went to its strengths – speed and the counterattack – to assert itself. Midway through the first half, Greg Klopfer bent the ball from the top of the area just past the right post. With 13 minutes left in the period. Gerrit Marino and Ryan Hahn ran a combination down the left wing. Hahn put it in front and Rochester goalkeeper Michael Peacock had to dive on the cross and Marino ran to the near post.

Anthony and Peacock each had three saves. Rochester held a 16-4 shot advantage and a 9-1 edge on corner kicks.

Another counter nearly got the Spartans even. A long ball found Sean Fitzgerald sprinting down the right wing. He got to the corner and lifted a long cross through a completely empty goalmouth.

“We did a good job keeping up the pressure,” Apple said. “Since we didn't score again (in the first half), it allowed Castleton to stay in it.”

“I'm pleased that we competed,” Werner said.

The Yellowjackets finally broke through for the second goal at 70:18. Phil Proud played a corner kick out of the left corner to the back post and Welles flashed hard to the post to head the ball in.

“It was an inswinger,” Werner said, “and those are a goalie's nightmare.”