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Sat., March 28 vs. UMBC, 11 a.m. | Live Video (free)
VERMONT WOMEN'S LACROSSE NOTEBOOKThe University of Vermont women's lacrosse team opens America East play this weekend with a matchup against UMBC on Saturday (March 28) in Burlington at 11 a.m. The game will be streamed live for free via CatamounTV.com.
TICKETSTickets for the game are available at
UVMathletics.com/tickets or in person one hour prior to the game at the Gutterson Fieldhouse ticket office. Admission is free for all UVM students with a school ID.
RALLY AGAINST CANCER GAMESaturday will be UVM women's lacrosse's Rally Against Cancer Game presented by Otter Creek Awnings and Vermont Customer Closets. The University of Vermont Cancer Center will have a table set up and will be accepting donations.
ABOUT VERMONTThe Catamounts enter their matchup with UMBC on a four-game winning streak after topping Quinnipiac (15-7), Sacred Heart (15-8), Dartmouth (19-11) and CCSU (15-11) to move to 7-3 overall on the season. The team is averaging 12.10 goals per contest following four straight games with 15 or more scores.
Jessica Roach and
Vanessa VanderZalm have led the Catamount attack with 60 goals and 16 assists combined, while VanderZalm also tops the team in draw controls, ground balls and caused turnovers. Senior
Meg Hopkins has started all 10 games in goal for UVM, compiling a career-high seven wins with a 10.10 goals against average and .414 save percentage.
Team LeadersPoints:
Jessica Roach (49),
Vanessa VanderZalm (27),
Alex Bernier (14)
Goals: Roach (39), VanderZalm (21),
Alison Bolt (11)
Assists: Roach (10), VanderZalm (6), Bernier (6)
Ground balls: VanderZalm (23),
Taylor Pedersen (18),
Meg Hopkins (18)
Caused turnovers: VanderZalm (19),
Megan Wilson (9),
Meghan Cobb (9)
Draw controls: VanderZalm (26), Bolt (18),
Marcie Marino (13)
Save pct.: Hopkins (.414)
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEKOn Monday, junior captain
Vanessa VanderZalm was named the America East Offensive Player of the Week, as she collected Vermont's fourth weekly award of the season. VanderZalm led the Catamounts to victories over Dartmouth and CCSU last week with a combined 10 goals in the pair of contests, including a season-high six at Dartmouth. The midfielder also added a season-best six draw controls and picked up three ground balls in the contest. Against CCSU, VanderZalm registered four goals to collect her fourth straight multi-goal performance and fifth overall on the year.
LEADING THE ATTACKJessica Roach and
Vanessa VanderZalm both rank among the top scorers in America East this season, each placing in the top-7 in both goals and points per game. Roach leads the conference in both categories, while ranking fourth in the nation in goals per game (3.90) and seventh in points per contest (4.90). VanderZalm also tops America East in caused turnovers per game (2.38) and ranks seventh in the nation in that category after registering five caused turnovers last time out.
ABOUT UMBCThe Retrievers own a 6-3 overall record and 1-0 mark in America East play through their opening nine games. They've won three in a row over Drexel (17-10), Manhattan (12-11) and most recently Binghamton (13-12 OT) in their conference opener. UMBC is averaging 9.78 goals per contest, led by Abby Wilson (19 g) and Sam Nolan (12). Marissa Davey was recently named the America East Co-Rookie and ECAC South Rookie of the Week after registering the team's final four goals in regulation and game-winner in OT against Binghamton. Kelsey Major owns a 8.28 goals against average through seven starts in goal for the Retrievers.
Team LeadersPoints: Abby Wilson (27), Sam Nolan (18), Jennie Milligan (16)
Goals: Wilson (19), Nolan (12), Milligan (11)
Assists: Wilson (8), Nolan (6), Milligan (5)
Ground balls: Lexi Bristow (20), Tianna Wallpher (19), Wilson (17)
Caused turnovers: Megan Flock (9), Wallpher (9), Caitlin Miller (7)
Draw controls: Miller (46), Flock (14), Marissa Davey (4)
Save pct.: Kelsey Major (.426)
ALL-TIME VS. UMBCThe Catamounts and Retrievers will meet for the 12
th time in series history on Saturday with UMBC holding a 7-4 advantage in head-to-head matchups after downing UVM 12-9 in the meeting in 2014. The last time the teams met in Burlington (2013), Vermont came out on top by a final of 8-7 behind three goals from
Jessica Roach.
NEXT UPUVM continues America East play next week with a matchup at Albany on Wednesday (April 1) at 3 p.m. Links to live coverage of the game are available at UVMathletics.com.