FINAL SCORE: Maine 1, Vermont 0
ORONO, Maine – A Genaya Loftis first-half goal proved to be all that Maine needed in a 1-0 defeat of Vermont in America East women's soccer action Sunday afternoon.
 
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The Catamounts fall to 5-4-1 on the season and 0-1-0 in league play while Maine, who was playing for the first time since Sept. 11, improves to 5-3-0 and 1-0-0.
 
Maine struck for the ultimate game-winner early in the first half on the first goal of the season for Loftis. The Black Bear striker tracked down a long pass that sailed over the heads of the Vermont back line and rolled towards a charging Coco Speckmaier. The Vermont keeper challenged Loftis at the top of the penalty area but the ball snuck through and Loftis passed a low shot into the wide open net.
 
Vermont maintained solid possession following the goal and appeared to have leveled the match in the 40th minute when Savana Yurick collected an errant header at the top of the box and sent a right footed shot into a vacant Maine net. The goal was waved off, however, as Yurick was called for a hand-ball.
 
The Catamounts outshot the Black Bears 11-5 in the first 45 minutes and had a 7-0 edge in corner kicks.
 
Vermont continued to put pressure on the Maine defense in the second half once more outshooting its counterpart but again unable to break through. A Sarah Martin  corner kick found the forehead of Caitie Green early in the half but Samantha Cobotic (10 saves) made a diving stop at the far post and Maine cleared the line.
 
UVM had its best opportunity to draw even in the 84th minute when a Nikki McFarland pass through traffic found the right foot of Julia Smith on the right side of the box. Smith's angle was cut down quickly and she fired her point blank shot in the hands of Cobotic.
 
Speckmaier finished with four saves in Vermont's second straight 1-0 loss.
 
The last five meetings between these two teams have been either a tie or a one-goal game.
 
Vermont will rest up for the next week before UMass Lowell comes to Burlington on Oct. 2. All the action begins at 1 p.m. at Virtue Field and it will be the Catamounts' annual Rally Against Cancer game presented by Otter Creek Awnings and Vermont Custom Closets.  All fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game.