BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Vermont field hockey team capped off the regular season with a thrilling come-from-behind 4-3 overtime victory against visiting California Sunday afternoon at Moulton Winder Field.
 
With the win, Vermont improves to 13-4 (5-3 AE) and sets a new program record for wins in a single season. Cal, meanwhile, falls to 4-11 and 3-5 in league play.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)
CatamounTV Highlights
 
COACH'S QUOTE
 
"I think it was really good for us to have that sense of chasing the game a little bit and having to respond heading into playoffs," head coach Kate Pfeifer said. "Our players stayed incredibly composed, made mature plays and it felt like we were a seasoned group out here today."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Cal netted the game's first goal two minutes into the second half when Luzi Persiehl's baseline crossing pass found the waiting stick of Monica Arteaga.
• UVM answered back four minutes later. Sophia Lefranc earned a penalty stroke for the Cats and senior Haley Buffenbarger made no mistake tying the game at 1-1.
• The Golden Bears would find the lead again with five minutes to go in the third on another good deflection – this time from Rachel Buttinger – to make it 2-1.
• Vermont earned another penalty stroke in the waning seconds of the quarter. This time Alina Gerke fired home her seventh goal of the season to tie the game heading to the fourth.
• California took its final lead of the day with just over four minutes to the in the contest. Buttinger crossed a ball in front of the UVM cage and Sophie Everett put it into the open net.
• Vermont once again had an answer and it came in dramatic fashion. The Catamounts earned an untimed penalty corner with no time left on the clock. Sophia Drees' initial shot from the point was blocked. The rebound bounced right to her stick and she delivered a pass to Maddie Moran who sent a backhand shot through traffic and into the net to tie the game, 3-3.
• Just 27 seconds into overtime, Lefranc drove towards the Cal net and made a pass to Moran. Her shot was saved by Cato Knipping (six saves) but Lefranc pounced on the rebound and buried the game-winner.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vermont's 13 wins overall are the most in program history as are the five conference victories.
• The Catamounts improve to 7-1 at home and 5-1 in overtime games this season.
• Today was UVM's first-ever win over California in Burlington.
• Sophia Drees picked up her 11^th assist of the season today which is the second-most all-time in a single-season at UVM.
• UVM honored seniors Haley Buffenbarger, Sierra Espeland, Kate Hall and Maddie Moran following the game thanks to the UVM Alumni Association.
• With today's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to COTS, the Committee on Temporary Shelter, as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.

UP NEXT
 
Vermont now gears up for the America East tournament starting on Thursday. The Cats earned the No. 4 seed and will take on No. 5 Stanford Thursday in Orono, Maine. That game is set to get underway at noon on ESPN+.