WOMEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
The defending America East Champions open the 2022 regular season this week with back-to-back matches at NEC opponents. On Thursday night UVM will face Sacred Heart at 7 p.m. and then on Sunday the Catamounts will take on Merrimack at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live for free on NEC Front Row.
RELATED LINKS
Thursday at Sacred Heart: Live Stats | Live Video (free)
Sunday at Merrimack: Live Stats | Live Video (free)
SEASON OPENERS
In season openers under Head Coach
Kristi Huizenga that Catamounts are 5-5-1. Last season UVM defeated Merrimack 4-3 in a high-scoring affair. Three of the Catamounts season-opening wins under Huizenga have come against Sacred Heart. All three wins (2013, 2017, 2019) came at home.
REGULAR SEASON WINNING STREAK
The Catamounts enter the regular season on a seven-game regular season winning streak. Vermont closed America East play last season winning its last seven games by a combined score of 16-2 on route to the programs' second regular season conference title. The seven-game regular season win streak is the longest in program history since 1979 when the Catamounts opened the campaign with 13 straight wins.
ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNERS
Four Catamount returners received postseason accolades from America East last season. Fifth year returners
Alyssa Oviedo (First-Team) and
Natalie Durieux (Second-Team) were named to the All-Conference teams. While
Maddy Cronin and
Bailey Ayer were recognized for their outstanding debutant campaigns by being selected to the AE All-Rookie team.
Head Coach
Kristi Huizenga and her returning staff of
Michael Skelton and
Gene Bushey were also recognized as America East's Coaching Staff of the Year last fall.
SISTER ACT
Fifth Year
Alyssa Oviedo will be joined by her sister Jazlyn this fall in Catamount Country. Jazlyn played 20 games over the last two seasons at Monmouth before transferring to Vermont. There are 50 Division I women's soccer teams with sisters on their team which represents 14.6% of the membership.
SCOUTING SACRED HEART
Sacred Heart was 8-7-2 last season and finished overall in the NEC with a conference mark of 6-3-1. The Pioneers return their three top-scorers from a year ago. As a first year Grace O'Hara led team in scoring with eight goals last season, which was third in the NEC. Sacred Heart was voted as third in Preseason Coaches Poll in the NEC.
The Catamounts are 5-0-0 all-time against the Pioneers. The teams last met on August 23, 2019 a 1-0 win for Vermont at Virtue Field.
Natalie Durieux scored the lone goal of the contest 4:38 into the contest.
SCOUTING MERRIMACK
The Warriors finished eighth in the NEC last season with a conference mark of 4-6. Overall, they were 5-11-2. This year they were projected to place sixth in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Warriors will open their season Thursday night at UMass Lowell. Merrimack will play five America East teams in their non-conference schedule this fall. Merrimack's top-four scorers from last year return including Molly Murnane (10 Pts) and Ella Cormier (12 Pts) who were their two double-digit scorers.
Sunday's matchup will be the third between the two schools. The series has been split 1-1-0 thus far. Last year Vermont opened their season with a 4-3 home win over Merrimack.
Jill Brody scored two goals in the final 34 minutes to seal the win. Her game-winner came with just 1:05 left in regulation. Sunday will be the Catamounts first trip to North Andover to face Merrimack on the road.
HOME OPENER AND TD BANK PEP RALLY AUGUST 28
Vermont will host perennial SEC contender No.12 South Carolina in its home opener on Sunday, August 28 at 2 p.m. Prior to the start of the game, please join us for the TD Bank Pep Rally from 1-2 p.m. surrounding Virtue Field. There will be live music, food, games, and giveaways!
CATAMOUNTS TO HOST FREE CLINIC SEPTEMBER 27
Vermont women's soccer will host a free Clinic with the Cats on Tuesday, September 27, from 4:45-5:45 p.m. on Virtue Field. All kids 12 and younger are encouraged to bring their soccer gear and will receive an hour-long skills and drills session from the coaching staff and members of the team. If interested, please RSVP to
Rallycatamount@uvm.edu to sign up. Deadline to register is Thursday, September 22, at 5 p.m. All kids attending will receive a free ticket to the men's soccer game following the clinic as they will host UMass at 7 p.m. on Virtue Field.
