FINAL SCORE: Vermont 17, Kennesaw State 14
KENNESAW, Ga. – Vermont used a balanced scoring attack, including three hat tricks, to hold off Kennesaw State for a 17-14 win on the road Wednesday afternoon. The Catamounts even their overall record to 4-4.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamounts used the first six minutes of the game to grab a 3-0 lead. Riley Halloran started the run with a goal two minutes in, then McKenzie Ballard added another score at the 25:48 mark. Maris Large capped off the surge with a goal two minutes later.
• Kennesaw State's Siena Gore got the home team on the board with 22:24 left on the clock, but Ballard and MacKenzie Bolt each netted a goal to pad UVM's lead to 5-1 near the midway point.
• The Owls fought back with two goals in 38 seconds to draw within 5-3. Dani Paterno answered with two goals for the Cats and pushed the margin back to a four-point game.
• Gore scored once more with three minutes left in the half, but Vermont buried two goals in the final minute to take an 8-4 lead into the break.
• Bolt and Ballard tallied goals to begin the second half, but Kennesaw State mounted a comeback with four straight goals and tied the game at 10-10 with 20 minutes to go in the game.
• The Cats regrouped and found the back of the net with goals from Paterno and Bolt once again. The two foes traded scores for most of the period but UVM added insurances goals from Large and Ava Vasile in the final minutes. 

GAME NOTES

• Ballard recorded her first-career hat trick with five goals and two assists.
• Paterno notched a season high with four goals, her second hat trick in the last three games. She gathered two ground balls and caused a turnover.
• Bolt registered five points with three goals and two assists. She forced three turnovers and won one draw control.
• Sophie McLaughlin made seven saves in goal to pick up the win.
• Wednesday was the first ever meeting between the two programs.
• 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 43 wins totaling $4,300. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support, protecting Vermonters since 1828.

WHO'S NEXT
Vermont will play the third leg of its four-game road trip at Marist on Sunday (March 15). The opening draw is set for 12 p.m. Free live video will be available on the Red Fox Network.
 
LACROSSE ALUMNI WEEKEND – Saturday, March 28
UVM will host Hartford for its second annual Vanessa Cox No. 23 Memorial Game on Sunday, March 28 to honor the late Vanessa Cox '05. Head coach Sarah Dalton Graddock will select one player to wear Cox's No. 23 jersey. Cox, a 2015 UVM Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, graduated as the all-time leader in points (173) and goals (133). A postgame reception for alumni and families will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. at Halvorson's Upstreet Café. To register, visit go.uvm.edu/laxalum.