FINAL SCORE: UMass 17, Vermont 11
AMHERST, Mass. – A strong, offensive second quarter distanced UMass (2-1) from Vermont (2-1) as the Catamounts suffered their first loss of the season by a score of 17-11 on Wednesday afternoon at Garber Field.
 
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Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Credit to UMass for taking advantage of our mistakes throughout the game," head coach Sarah Dalton Graddock said. "We need to do a much better job when we have possession to take care of the ball. I thought we responded well at times, especially in the second half. We will look to build on that momentum moving forward. It's on me to make sure we are executing at a high level in the first half."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• UMass opened the scoring 1:36 into the afternoon, but Vermont responded with three-straight goals to take a 3-1 lead with 6:54 left in the first quarter. Maris Large tied the game at one-apiece, followed up by goals from Ava Vasile and Grace Giancola. The Minutewomen battled back and took a 4-3 lead through one frame.
• Ciera Licare scored her first collegiate goal early in the second quarter to knot the game at 4-4 with 12:25 left in the half. UMass' Mara Kelly scored a free-position goal 33 seconds later to spark a 5-0 run for the Minutewomen. UMass would take a 9-4 lead into the break.
• Vasile notched her second goal of the game with 12:54 left in the third quarter, to halt the UMass run. The midfielder scored on a pass from Taylor Mullen. Riley Halloran added a UVM goal after a pair of UMass tally's to begin a run of three-straight goals for the Catamounts. Halloran's tally with 10:18 left in the third quarter was followed up by a free-position goal by Vasile, and a marker by Claire Adelhelm. Adelhelm and Mullen would score later on in the quarter, but UMass would take a 14-10 lead with 15 minutes to play.
• Kerry Gerety scored the lone goal for the Catamounts in the fourth quarter on an assist by Giancola. UMass struck three times in the final frame.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vasile posted a team-high four points on her third hat trick of the season. The junior tallied six shots, caused four turnovers, and scooped up three groundballs.
• Mullen and McKenzie Ballard registered two assists each. Mullen's three-point game is her highest total through three games this season.
• Adelhelm posted two goals and one assist for the second consecutive game. The rookie had three shots on goal.
• Sophie McLaughlin recorded nine saves in goal for the Catamounts.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts return to Burlington for the home opener Sunday (Feb. 27) when they host Wagner at Virtue Field. The opening draw is slated for 12 p.m. and can be seen live on AmericaEast.TV. Tickets are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or by visiting the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office on gameday.