FIELD HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
 
The Vermont field hockey team begins a three-game homestand with a pair of America East games this weekend. Friday the Cats take on UC Davis at 2 p.m. and Sunday, Stanford comes to town for a 12:30 matinee.
 
Both games will be streamed live and for free on AmericaEast.TV.
 
RELATED LINKS
UC Davis Coverage: Live Stats | AmericaEast.TV
Stanford Coverage: Live Stats | AmericaEast.TV
 
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
 
This weekend's contests play host to a variety of promotions.
 
Friday's contest will be Military Appreciation Day presented by Milton Cat. We encourage fans to visit with our friends from Josh Pallotta Fund, a local non-profit providing critical services to veterans and active military personnel.
 
And Sunday is the annual Rally Against Cancer Game Presented by Mascoma Bank. All fans are encouraged to wear lavender, the universal cancer awareness color. to the game. All Rally Against Cancer initiatives will benefit the UVM Cancer Center thanks to Mascoma Bank. Please visit their table for donations, giveaways, educational opportunities and more.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
Vermont won a pair of games last weekend in Boston – a 3-2 shootout victory on Friday over Holy Cross and then a 3-1 triumph over Boston University on Sunday. Sophia Drees played hero on Friday scoring twice in regulation and then burying the game-winner in the shootout. Alina Gerke also scored for the Cats in the penalty frame. Sunday was about defense for UVM. The defensive corner unit turned away 15 penalty corner opportunities while Sierra Espeland was stout in cage making 10 saves. Maddie Moran scored two goals and Sophia Lefranc added an insurance tally late in the fourth quarter to salt away the win.
 
ESPELAND ALONE AT THE TOP
 
With her victory in cage on Friday – the 29^th of her career – Sierra Espeland became UVM's all-time leader in wins. She passed Pat Donze and now sits alone in the record book.
 
MORAN AND DREES HEATING UP
 
Madie Moran continued her torrid stretch at BU scoring twice to give her three goals and three assists in her last three games. Sophia Drees also has three goals – including the game-winner at Holy Cross – and two assists in that same stretch.
 
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
 
UC Davis enters the Friday afternoon matchup against the Catamounts with a 1-4 record after dropping two games last week to Indiana and Wake Forest. UC Davis was picked to finish eighth in the America East Preseason Poll after posting a 6-10 (1-7 AE) record in 2021. Brooke Sanchez leads the team in scoring with three goals and six points while Grace Austin and Lizzy Tedrow have each recorded three points. Goalkeeper Kalli Wagnon has a 1-4 record in 5 starts and a 4.03 goals-against-average.
 
SCOUTING THE CARDINAL
 
Stanford enters its Sunday afternoon matchup against the Catamounts with a 2-3 record after dropping last weekend's game, 6-0, to UNC. Stanford was selected to finish third in the America East Preseason Poll after posting a 4-9 (3-5 AE) record in 2021. Rose Winter leads the team with four points and two assists in five games so far. Goalkeeper Daisy Ford has a 2-3 record in five starts and a 3.19 goals-against-average.
 
SERIES HISTORIES
 
The Catamounts are 4-1 against UC Davis all-time and have won the previous three match ups. The teams last faced each other last season where Vermont defeated UC Davis 4-0. UVM is still searching for its first win against the Cardinal (0-5). These two teams previously met in 2021 where Stanford defeated Vermont 1-0.