BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Vermont men's soccer team played a man down for 66 minutes and came away with a 2-1 victory over La Salle on the first day of action at the Morgan Stanley Windjammer Classic at Virtue Field on Friday.
 
The Catamounts, who entered the game receiving votes in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Division I National Poll, move to 3-0 on the season. La Salle drops to 0-2 overall.
 
In the 24th minute, Vermont's Shane Haley was issued a red card after what was ruled an intentional hand ball on the goal line during a corner kick opportunity for La Salle.

RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Highlights
Photo Gallery: Part 1 | Part 2
 
UVM goalkeeper Conor Leland snuffed out the penalty kick attempt that followed to keep the game scoreless.
 
Five minutes later, freshman Eamon Kitson collected a ball near midfield and was able to beat several La Salle defenders with an individual effort to score his first collegiate goal and put Vermont up 1-0.
 
Vermont would take the lead and an 8-4 advantage in shots into halftime.
 
Just four minutes into the second half, Vermont's Brian Wright was taken down in the penalty box and the Catamounts were awarded a penalty kick. South Burlington, Vermont native Brad Cole stepped up and converted the opportunity to push UVM's lead to 2-0.
 
La Salle was able to avoid the shutout in the closing minutes of the contest. John Ciarlante headed in a Bobby Briggs corner kick at 88:31 to put the Explorers on the board.
 
Leland was credited with two saves in the Vermont net, while Mike Kirk made five stops for La Salle.
 
The Morgan Stanley Windjammer Classic resumes on Sunday (Sept. 7). UMass Lowell, which defeated St. Francis Brooklyn 3-1 earlier in the day, faces La Salle at 11 a.m. Vermont takes on St. Francis Brooklyn at 1:30 p.m.
 
Tickets can be purchased online at UVMathletics.com or in person one hour before kickoff at the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office. Both games will also be streamed online for free in HD via CatamounTV.com.