MEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
Vermont (6-3, 0-1) will continue its two-game road trip to begin conference play at UMBC (4-3-1, 0-1) on Saturday (Sept. 29). The opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Free live video will be available at
AmericaEast.TV.
RELATED LINKS
UMBC: Video | Live Stats
United Soccer Coaches: Northeast Regional Poll
HIGH-SCORING CATS
The Catamounts lead America East in points (48), goals (17), and assists (14). UVM's 48 points are 12 more than Albany in second place and rank 29th-best in Division I. The Cats have also netted the 23rd-most goals in the country.
NORTHEAST POWERS
The Cats and Retrievers rank among the top-10 in this week's United Soccer Coaches Northeast Regional Poll. Vermont sits at No. 4 and UMBC cracked the list at No. 10. UVM and UMBC are two of four America East teams in the rankings – UMass Lowell (No. 1) and New Hampshire (No. 2).
DYNAMIC SENIOR DUO
Senior forwards
Geo Alves and
Justin Freitas stand atop the league's top scoring list with 11 points each. Alves holds a share of the conference lead with five goals and has produced an America East-best 45 shot attempts. Freitas ranks second in the league with four goals and three assists.
SCOUTING UMBC
The Retrievers have played well on their home turf with a 3-1-1 mark. UMBC has generated more points (25-7) and more shot attempts (63-23) in Baltimore than on the road. The Retrievers were picked to finish fifth, right behind Vermont, in this year's America East Preseason Coaches' Poll. Cesare Marconi leads the way with nine points on three goals and three assists. The sophomore forward sits fifth among the league's top scorers behind Alves and Freitas. Tre Pulliam follows with five points on two goals and one assist. Goalie Ciaran O'Loughlin has made 29 saves, the second-most in America East, and has registered a 1.25 goals-against average.
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Catamounts have been very successful against the Retrievers with an 8-4-1 all-time record. UVM has won four straight matches and has outscored UMBC 11-2 over the four-game streak. In the 2009 meeting, Vermont traveled to Baltimore and knocked off No. 18 UMBC 3-1. Last year, the Cats cruised to a 3-1 win at Virtue Field behind two goals from Freitas.
Able Paint Glass and Flooring is the presenting sponsor of the 2018 Vermont men's soccer season
