Tweet #VCats | Follow @UVMathletics | Follow @UVMfieldhky

---

The University of Vermont field hockey team hosts the 2014 Catamount Classic this weekend. UVM will play two games in the tournament beginning with a matchup against Hofstra on Saturday (Sept. 13) at 12 p.m. The following day, the Catamounts take on Harvard at 2:30 p.m. in the final game of the classic.
 
This year's tournament will feature Harvard, Hofstra, Maine and Vermont. The schedule of games is listed below, and all four contests will be streamed online for free at CatamounTV.com.
 
Saturday (Sept. 13)
12:00 p.m. – Hofstra vs. Vermont | Live Video
2:30 p.m. – Harvard vs. Maine | Live Video
 
Sunday (Sept. 14)
12:00 p.m. – Maine vs. Hofstra | Live Video
2:30 p.m. – Harvard vs. Vermont | Live Video
 
ABOUT VERMONT
UVM enters the annual Catamount Classic at 0-4 on the year after falling to Pacific and Kent State this past week. Vermont nearly pulled off the comeback against Kent State on Saturday, but eventually fell by a score of 4-3. Sophomore Anne-Marie Farmer and freshman Taylor Gaines each tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Catamounts in the contest.
 
Gaines is Vermont's top scorer this season with five points, two goals and one assist. Senior captain Ashley McDonald has scored in each of the last two games to move into a tie for the team-lead in goals. Junior Molly Higgins tallied an assist against Kent State, and now leads the squad with two on the season. Sophomore Emily Snowden, who has started all four games in net, tops all America East goalies in saves per game (11.50) and ranks fourth nationally.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Gaines was named the America East Rookie of the Week on Monday following standout performances against Pacific and Kent State. The British Columbia native led the Catamounts with three points in the two games on a goal and an assist. In the second half against Kent State, Gaines collected the first assist of her Catamount career on McDonald's goal. Gaines now leads Vermont this season in points (5), goals (2), and shots on goal (8).
 
SCOUTING THE FIELD
Harvard opened the 2014 season with a 3-2 win over Bryant, and followed that up with a 4-0 shutout victory against Holy Cross. Marissa Balleza, the team's top scorer last season, leads the Crimson with five points on a pair of goals and one assist through the first two games. Noel Painter is second on the squad with four points on a goal and two assists. Issy Davies has surrendered just two goals in net, and combined with Olivia Startup to shutout Holy Cross this past Sunday. Harvard returns 17 players from last year's squad that went 8-9 overall.
 
Hofstra owns a 4-1 record on the year, including a 2-1 mark on the road. The Pride dropped a 7-0 decision to Albany in the season opener, but bounced back to defeat Colgate (7-1), Sacred Heart (3-2), Yale (2-1) and Fairfield (2-1 in OT) to open a four-game winning streak. Lauren del Valle, Claudia Marin-Samper and Jonel Boileau have each tallied eight points through the team's first five contests. Carys Swan is 4-0 in goal and claimed the CAA Rookie of the Week honor on Tuesday. Hofstra is just two wins shy of last season's win total, as they finished 6-14 in 2013.
 
Maine began the 2014 campaign with a 4-0 victory at Central Michigan, but has lost its last three contests to Michigan State (5-4), Stanford (1-0) and UMass (3-2 in OT). Cassidy Svetek tops the Black Bears with seven points (3 g, 1 ast), and Danielle Aviani sits in the second with five points (2 g, 1 ast). Goalie Emily Corbet owns a 1-2 record, with 14 saves and eight goals against. Maine, which finished 11-9 overall and 3-2 in America East last season, returns its top two scorers in Annabelle Hamilton (35 pts) and Holly Stewart (30). The Black Bears reached the semifinals of the conference tournament in 2013 before falling to Albany, 1-0.