ORONO, Maine. – Chloe Walton's early second-half goal was the clinching marker as Maine defeated Vermont 2-0 on Friday afternoon at UMaine Field Hockey Complex.
 
The Cats fall to 0-5 (0-3 AE) on the season while Maine improves to 3-2 (3-0 AE).
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (pdf.)

COACH'S QUOTE
"As much as we are frustrated with the outcome, it's hard to find much to critique in our performance today," head coach Kate Pfeifer said. "The effort was there, the focus was there, both teams created chances and we controlled significant portions of the match. I'm proud of the attacking mindset that we clearly played with today. Credit to Maine for capitalizing on a moment when we had pulled Sierra to try to tie the game."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The conference foes played a scoreless opening half with the shot totals knotted up at three apiece. The Catamounts had the lone shot on goal in the first 30 minutes. Kate Hall tested Mia Borley (5 saves) who dove across and turned away the shot with her stick in the 20^th minute.
• Walton's clinching goal came in the 32^nd minute. The Black Bears' forward cleaned up a rebound from the right of Sierra Espeland (4 saves) for her first tally of the season.
• Vermont responded with a pair of shots on goal just minutes later in the third quarter. Clodagh Ferry directed a shot in the 39^th minute that was kicked away by Borley. Maddie Moran was credited with a shot on goal in the 44^th minute, but it was once again turned away by Borley.  
• The Black Bears nearly doubled their lead early in the fourth quarter, when Brooke Sulinski's shot caused Espeland to sprawl and make a diving save. The UVM goalkeeper stretched out and denied the attempt with the inside of her stick to keep the Catamounts within a goal.
• Poppy Lambert added an insurance marker in the 57^th minute, scoring off a penalty corner. The rookie's shot was deflected and skipped over Espeland for her third goal of the season.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• The Friday afternoon match saw a pair of lightning delays. The game was first delayed in the second quarter for 53 minutes, and 40 minutes late in the fourth quarter.
• Ferry registered a team-high three shots for the Catamounts, which included her lone shot on goal. Moran paced Vermont with two shots on goal.
• Hall, Bailey Matthews and Sydney Melfi were also credited with shots.
 
WHO'S NEXT
Vermont finally returns home to Moulton Winder Field when UMass Lowell comes to town on Wednesday, March 31 for a midweek battle. It's the first home game for UVM since Nov. of 2019 and all the actions gets underway at 2 p.m.