WOMEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
Vermont women's soccer (3-4-0, 0-0-0 AE) returns to America East Conference action on Virtue Field this weekend. Vermont will entertain America East foe UMBC (4-3-2, 0-0-0 AE) at 12 p.m. and that game will be broadcast live on ESPN 3 with Brian McLaughin on the call.
 
RELATED LINKS
UMBC: Watch Live | Live Stats | Tickets
 
MORGAN STANLEY PETER BALDWIN COMMUNITY YOUTH SOCCER WEEKEND
Vermont soccer will be hosting a doubleheader on Sunday as a part of the Morgan Stanley Peter Baldwin Community Youth Soccer Weekend. The UVM women will be hosting conference foe UMBC at 12 p.m., followed by the men's game against UC Irvine at 7 p.m. The annual Peter Baldwin Games allow us to honor Peter's memory, and his commitment to the special Vermont community through both his time at UVM and his work at Morgan Stanley. Baldwin, a 1968 graduate and 1984 UVM Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, guided the Vermont men's soccer team to three straight Yankee Conference titles and currently ranks fifth on the school's all-time scoring list. Thank you, Morgan Stanley, for making this game possible and being a proud partner of UVM Athletics. Kids 12 and younger wearing their favorite youth jersey will receive free admission to the game.
 
AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE OPENERS
Vermont will face UMBC in the America East Conference opener for the first time since 2010, a 2-0 defeat at Virtue field. Under head coach Kristi Huizenga the Catamounts are 3-9-0 in conference openers and last earned a victory in 2018 over Binghamton. The Catamounts have been competitive, forcing nine one-score games in that span. The Catamounts have earned all three of their conference opening victories by one goal. At Virtue Field, the Cats' are 3-4-0 in conference openers.
 
AMERICA EAST IS BACK
Vermont versus UMBC will mark the first game of conference play for the America East. The Catamounts look to defend their America East crown in their first conference game of the season when they host UMBC on Sunday. Vermont finished 7-2, winning the America East conference in 2021. UVM only faced UMBC once last season, winning that game 3-1 in Baltimore on October 24, to clinch the America East regular season title.  
 
SCOUTING UMBC
UMBC comes into today's matchup atop the America East Conference with a 4-3-2 overall record, with victories over Delaware State, LIU, VMI and Wagner. The Retrievers have registered four shutouts this season behind Senior goalkeeper Morgan McGruder. UMBC is led by junior Meghan McKye who has nine points on four goals and one assist. Graduate student Lola Negrete has also contributed four points on two assists and one goal. McGruder has played every minute in net for the Retrievers through nine games, with 33 saves, a 1.00 goals against average and an .786 save percentage.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 19th matchup all-time between UMBC and Vermont. Vermont leads the series 11-4-3 with their last victory coming on October 24, 2021, when UVM bested UMBC 3-1 on the road. Vermont has won three straight matchups dating back to 2017, outscoring the Retrievers 7-1 over those three contests. The two teams have met once in the America East Conference tournament with the Catamounts capturing the 1-0 victory on Virtue Field in 2015.
 
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.