FINAL SCORE: Vermont 9, Merrimack 8
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Ben French scored his second game-winning goal in as many weeks Saturday against Merrimack, finding the back of the net with six seconds remaining to lift the Catamounts to a dramatic 9-8 win over the Warriors on Virtue Field.
 
Vermont improves to 2-1 overall with the victory on Military Appreciation Day presented by Milton CAT. Merrimack drops to 1-4 overall in its first Division I season.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score  | Feifs Postgame
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"The plan was to save it for the last shot and try to put a quality shot on cage," said head coach Chris Feifs on the final possession. "I have full confidence that Coach Bernhardt is going to call up something good for every timeout, and the guys executed to a T. Merrimack defended it very well and Thomas McConvey had the foresight to throw one more to French for the game-winner; I'm really, really proud of how they executed."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Merrimack jumped to a 4-1 lead through 15 minutes with goals from four different Warriors. Thomas McConvey tallied his seventh goal of the season in the quarter to put the Catamounts on the board.
• After a scoreless start to the second quarter, Vermont exploded for four goals to take a 5-4 halftime lead. Rob Hudson cut into the Warrior lead and consecutive goals from David Closterman brought the score even at 4-4. French scored his first of the game with 27 seconds left in the half to give UVM its first lead.
• Hudson and French each scored to start the third quarter to push Vermont's lead to 7-4, but Merrimack responded, cutting the Catamount lead to one heading into the final 15 minutes with goals from Christian Thomas and Charlie Bertrand.
• Dom Thomas and Sean Black continued the Warrior run into the fourth quarter, scoring with 7:02 and 5:46 to play to put Merrimack ahead 8-7.
• Hudson completed the hat trick, his second in as many games, with 4:47 left in regulation to even the score at 8-8. He drove to the net from the goal line extended and beat goalie Peter Brown (11 saves).
• The Catamount defense made several stops in the fourth, notably gaining possession and clearing into the Merrimack offensive zone with 46 seconds left. After a UVM timeout, French received a pass from McConvey at the net front and buried a low shot under Brown for the game-winner.

GAME NOTES

• Nick Washuta made a season-high 14 saves to pick up his second victory of the season and 26th of his career. He made seven saves in each half.
• Closterman, French, Hudson, and McConvey all finished the game with three points apiece. Hudson recorded his fourth career hat trick and French recorded his 10th career hat trick.
• Freshman Tommy Burke went 7-for-12 at the faceoff X, marking a career-high in faceoff wins. The Catamounts went 10-for-20 against the Warriors.
• Vermont was tagged with eight penalties totaling 6:30. The Warriors were unable to capitalize, going 0-for-6 on man-up opportunities.
• The Cats move to 10-1 on Virtue Field since the start of the 2018 season.
• With the victory, the Cats Win, Community Wins campaign and Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to a Vermont charity, bringing the 2020 total to 34 wins totaling $3,400. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support, protecting Vermonters since 1828.

 
UVM MEN'S LACROSSE NIKE TEAM STORE OPEN UNTIL MONDAY
University of Vermont Athletics and the University Licensing Department are proud to announce a partnership with Nike and BSN Sports to make sport-specific gear available to our fans. Order Vermont Lacrosse apparel by clicking here.
 
UP NEXT | Tickets
Vermont hosts Dartmouth (3-0, 0-0 Ivy) next Saturday (Mar. 7) on Virtue Field. The opening faceoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game will stream through AmericaEast.tv.