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For the third straight season, the Vermont men's lacrosse team will play for the America East Championship. The second-seeded Cats take on No. 4 UAlbany Saturday morning in what will be the third matchup between the two teams this season.
 
All the action begins at 10 a.m. and can be seen live on ESPNU.
 
RELATED LINKS
Live Video | Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT
Trailing 6-3 late in the third quarter, the Vermont offense came alive scoring seven of the game's final eight goals to come from behind and beat Stony Brook for the second time in five days, 10-7. Michael McCormack and David Closterman each poured in three goals while Ryan Cornell made 15 saves. Vermont scored three man-up goals in a 1:08 stretch in the third quarter to take the lead and the defense held Stony Brook to just two goals in the final 51:32 of game action.
 
ALL-LEAGUE HONORS
Seven Catamounts earned nine spots across the America East All-Conference teams, it was announced earlier Wednesday, headlined by four members of the First-Team. Tommy Burke was named to the First Team, Rookie Team and All-Academic Team – the first player in program history to do that. He was joined by Michael McCormack, Thomas McConvey and Will Jones on the First Team. Closterman was a second-team selection for the second time in his career while Nick Alviti and JJ Levandowski also joined Burke on the All-Rookie Team.
 
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Saturday marks Vermont's third straight appearance in the championship game and fourth overall (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021). Vermont defeated UAlbany in the 2019 semifinals to reach the title game and played the Great Danes in the 2018 championship tilt.
 
SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES
UAlbany advanced to Saturday's title game with a 14-12 victory over top-seed and host UMBC. The Danes jumped out to a 7-1 lead in Thursday's first semifinal before needing a late goal from Corey Yunker to break a 12-all tie in the fourth. Jakob Patterson enters Saturday with a team-high 40 points (10G, 30A) while Graydon Hogg leads the team with 29 goals. Liam Donnelly made seven saves in the semifinal in cage and has started every game this season.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
UAlbany holds a 21-8 all-time series record against Vermont. Vermont has won four straight including both matchups this season. The Cats and Great Danes squared off in the 2018 championship game with UAlbany claiming its ninth conference title that year.