WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Vermont field hockey team got a goal in each half and rode a strong defensive effort to its first league win of the season knocking off #22 Monmouth, 2-0, on Friday afternoon.
With the win, UVM improves to 7-4 overall and 1-2 in America East play while Monmouth drops to 5-5 and 0-2 to start the league slate.
RELATED LINKS
BOX SCORE | BOX SCORE (PDF)
ALINA GERKE GOAL
CLODAGH FERRY GOAL
COACH'S QUOTE
"Our players battled for 60 minutes today to earn this win. They stayed composed and united under significant pressure from Monmouth and made play, after play, after play," head coach
Kate Pfeifer said. "I'm so proud of the defensive effort, particularly from the back line, Sierra and our defensive corner unit. On the attacking end, we really made our opportunities count and again, the corner execution was on point."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Alina Gerke got the Cats on the board five minutes into the contest. Kate Hall found Gerke motoring down the right flank and the first-year from Germany made no mistake with her blast to the far post. It was her fourth goal of the season.
- The Cats started the second half much the like the first and doubled their lead just four minutes in. After earning a penalty corner, the combination of Hall and Puck Kwaspen set up Clodagh Ferry's top of the circle drive to make it 2-0. Ferry now has a team-high seven goals this season while Hall and Kwapsen each have eight assists.
- Monmouth pulled its goalie and played with an extra attacker for the final seven minutes of the game but Sierra Espeland (5 saves) and the UVM defense held strong to earn the shutout.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Kate Hall has registered a point in five of the last six games.
- It was the third time this season that Clodagh Ferry scored on assists from Kwaspen and Hall.
- Vermont snapped a five-game losing streak to Monmouth.
- Today marks UVM's first win over a ranked opponent since Oct. 2018 when it beat #15 Maine, 3-0.
- With today's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance will donate $100 to Vermont Foodbank as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Vermont Mutual Insurance has committed to donating $15,000 to Vermont Foodbank for the 2021 season. A special thanks to Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.
WHO'S NEXT
The Cats dip back into non-conference action on Sunday to close out the weekend when they take on Wagner. That game gets underway at noon and can be seen live and for free on NEC Front Row.
