FINAL SCORE: Vermont 3, Central Michigan 0
EAST LANSING, Mich. – A flurry of three goals in the first 16 minutes plus a 70-minute shutout effort by senior goalkeeper Lena Benwood led the University of Vermont field hockey team over Central Michigan by a 3-0 score on Friday afternoon at Ralph Young Field at Michigan State University.
 
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UVM is now 2-1 on the season, while the Chippewas drop to 0-3. The Catamounts have also evened the all-time series between the sides at two-apiece.
 
Benwood's performance was her fifth career clean sheet and first since Sept. 20, 2015–a 3-0 decision against Siena at Moulton Winder Field.
 
On Friday the Catamounts first found their way to the scoreboard via an early penalty corner. Lauren Tucker was credited the goal in the second minute after Carla Godsman fed the insert and Olivia Hurd manned the stick stop role. It was Tucker's second goal of the season and second consecutive match scoring off of a corner.
 
In the 12th minute Kyra Lee doubled the Catamounts' lead to 2-0. Lee's goal was the second of her career and first since Oct. 12, 2014.
 
Soon after, Vermont wrapped up the day's scoring on a tally by Landon Warren. That was her third goal of the season and came in the 16th minute, moving the score to 3-0 which stood for the balance of the afternoon.
 
The second half saw Central Michigan create offensive opportunities by virtue of three penalty corners, but Benwood and the defense in front of her stepped up to foil any chance for the Chippewas to cut into the Vermont lead.
 
Overall, the Catamounts outshot CMU by a 16-2 margin on the day, including an 8-1 difference in shots on goal. The Green and Gold also had the edge in corners, 11-3.
 
Freshman Pleun Haantjes registered her first career defensive save in the win. Laura Zavrl also made her collegiate debut.
 
The Catamounts now set their sights on Sunday morning (Sept. 3), when the squad will take on Michigan State at 11 a.m.