FIELD HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
For the first time in the month of September, University of Vermont field hockey (2-2) is on its home pitch this Saturday (Sept. 9) to welcome Ivy League foe Cornell. The match will begin at 1 p.m. at Moulton Winder Field. Fans are encouraged to stick around following the match to collect a commemorative UVM team poster courtesy of UVM Print & Mail and receive autographs from the Catamounts.
 
Saturday's contest also will be played in conjunction with UVM's Catamount Challenge. Additional details regarding the initiative are below.
 
Live video as well as live stats will be available during Saturday's game via Stretch Internet.
 
RELATED LINKS
Video
 
FIELD HOCKEY HOSTS CATAMOUNT CHALLENGE SATURDAY
The Catamount Challenge is a student-athlete engagement program sponsored by UVM Athletics in partnership with the Student-Athlete Advisory Council. Student-athletes around campus are encouraged to turn out Saturday as a means of fostering continued support between athletic teams.
 
Student-athletes attending Saturday's field hockey game can check in and receive points for their respective team by visiting with Catamount Challenge representatives who will be on-site.
 
GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
Poster Day Presented by UVM Print & Mail: Stay after the game to receive a FREE schedule poster and team autographs. The Catamounts thank UVM Print & Mail for supporting Poster Day.

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CATAMOUNTS RECAP
UVM traveled to the Wolverine State last weekend for a pair of matches on the campus of Michigan State University. On Friday (Sept. 1), the Catamounts rang in the new month with a 3-0 blanking of Central Michigan after five different players notched a point; Lena Benwood also earned her fifth career shutout with support from the defense in front of her. All three goals, including Kyra Lee's first collegiate tally, came in the first 16 minutes of the game.
 
The Green and Gold once again got off to a fast start on Sunday (Sept. 3) against Michigan State, but were unable to withstand a fierce comeback in the second half by the Spartans. Landon Warren, Rebekah Silver and Carla Godsman all pitched in to build a 3-0 lead, however MSU responded with three tallies to tie the score at 3-3 by the 63rd minute. In overtime the Spartans found the cage to steal a 4-3 victory from UVM, despite 15 total saves by Benwood.
 
SCOUTING CORNELL
Fresh off a pair of 1-0 victories against Ohio (Sept. 1) and Bucknell (Sept. 3), Cornell has opened up 2017 with a 2-0 record. Over that stretch, the Big Red have surrendered only four combined shots on goal, a stat that has helped the squad go unbeaten in its last six matches dating back to last season.
 
A total of five players have registered a point on the young campaign, marked in part by goals from Gabby DePetro and Kirsten Pienaar. In 2016, Krysten Mayers (31 pts) and Katie Carlson (22 pts) carried the load offensively, while Kelly Johnson and Maddie Henry continue to split time in the cage. Neither have allowed a goal this year, although in 2016 Johnson saw the majority of minutes and posted a 1.99 goals against average.
 
Donna Hornibrook has been at the helm of the Big Red since 2004 and is the winningest head coach in program history. Since arriving on campus, her players have earned 47 All-Ivy nods including 19 First Team selections. Hornibrook played collegiately in Canada at the University of New Brunswick and was a member of the Canadian national team from 1979-83.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall the Catamounts are 3-2 against their Empire State rival dating back to the 2005 season. UVM picked up a trio of 2-0 wins over the Big Red (2005, 2006, 2011) before being dealt a pair of setbacks during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. The Green and Gold have won both tilts played in Burlington.
 
NEW LOOK CATS
During last Friday's win over Central Michigan, freshman Laura Zavrl saw the field for the first time as a Catamount. Seven other newcomers have also made their collegiate debut over UVM's first four matches, including Sophia Cheever, Claudia Cotter, Pleun Haantjes, Taryn Marra, Sydney Melfi, Kailyn Myshrall, and Clare Sheahan.
 
LEADERS OF THE PACK
Jackie Gillen and Olivia Hurd will lead the Catamounts in 2017 as captains.
 
HENNI TIETZE JOINS CATAMOUNT STAFF
Head coach Kate Pfeifer announced during the preseason that Henni Tietze has joined her program's staff as an assistant coach. Tietze (pronounced TEET-zuh) comes to UVM after spending the 2016 season in the same capacity at Providence College of the BIG EAST.
 
Tietze also enjoyed a four-year career at Providence (2011-14) at center-back, during which she amassed 22 goals and 15 assists. Her 59 total points rank 22nd all-time in program history.

FOLLOW THE #VCATS
Fans can follow the Catamounts all across social media for the latest news, updates and inside looks around the program. On Facebook, search for UVM Field Hockey. On Twitter and Instagram, follow the Green and Gold using the handle @UVMfieldhky.
 
NEXT UP
Vermont continues a three-game homestand next Friday (Sept. 15) with a 4 p.m. matchup against Dartmouth at Moulton Winder Field.