FINAL SCORE: Vermont 2, Sacred Heart 1
BURLINGTON, Vt. – University of Vermont senior midfielder Sarah Martin converted a penalty kick opportunity late in the second half to lead the Catamounts to a 2-1 win over Sacred Heart on Friday night in the regular season opener. Martin's goal was the first penalty-kick goal scored by a UVM player since 2012.
 
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Vermont reaches the win column on Opening Day for the first time since 2014. Sacred Heart drops the season opener and falls to 0-1 to begin the year. The Catamounts generated 20 shots and 10 corner kicks which topped the Pioneers in both categories.
 
Sacred Heart had a chance early in the game. Kim McNally took a free kick from midfield and booted a shot on goal where UVM keeper Coco Speckmaier (3 saves) punched it away for the stop.  
 
Ella Bankert, a native of Cuttingsville, Vermont, nearly got the Green and Gold on the scoreboard with a pair of opportunities near the midway point of the first half. In the 16th minute, Bankert fired a shot from the 18-yard box but Nicole Sambuco (7 saves) preserved the scoreless tie. Three minutes later, the freshman had another attempt but Sambuco made the save.
 
Late in the second half, Bankert set up the offense with a cross from the left side to Aly Spencer, who tried to sneak one by Sambuco with a header but could not get the Cats on the scoreboard before the end of the period.
 
The Catamounts broke through shortly after halftime as Martin floated a corner to the edge of the six-yard box. Freshman Angie Salvi elevated for a header and tallied her first collegiate goal as the ball trickled inside the left post off the hands of Sambuco.
 
In the 77th minute, the Pioneers tied the game on Melanie DaSilva's first goal of the season. As Sacred Heart pushed the ball past midfield, DaSilva received a pass and dribbled past the UVM defense for the breakaway chance. DaSilva moved to her right after getting by a charging Speckmaier and notched the equalizer with a right-footed shot.
 
Two minutes later, the Catamounts drew a penalty in the box. On Martin's attempt, the senior drove a low shot into the center of the goal after Sambuco dove to her left to give the Cats the go-ahead score. 
 
Vermont travels to Rhode Island on Sunday (Aug. 20) at 1 p.m. in game two of the opening weekend.  
 
Almartin Volvo is the presenting sponsor of the 2017 Vermont women's soccer season