FIELD HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
 
The surging Vermont field hockey team wraps up a three-game homestand Friday afternoon against America East newcomer Bryant and then begins a three-game road trip starting with a contest at Northeastern on Sunday.
 
Friday's contest can been seen on AmericaEast.TV while and Sunday's is available on NESN+ and FloSports online.
 
RELATED LINKS
Bryant Game Coverage: Live Stats | AmericaEast.TV
Northeastern Game Coverage: Live Stats | NESN+ | FloSports
 
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
 
Friday's contest against Bryant marks Vermont's Rally Around Mental Health and Spread Respect game. 
 
Spread Respect is an initiative that was developed by the America East Conference to raise awareness to ensure equality and safety for all student-athletes, coaches and fans without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. 
 
Led by student-athletes, the Rally Around Mental Health initiative offers educational programming and activities to promote mental health, resources for seeking help, and supports ongoing conversations about mental health through designated games for each sport. Visit the Rally Around Mental Health table for more information. If you would like to help the Rally Around Mental Health initiative bring more resources & programming to UVM Athletics, please visit go.uvm.edu/ramh.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
Vermont won a pair of games last weekend in at home to get off to a 2-0 start in league play. On Friday, the Cats erases an early 1-0 deficit against UC Davis with three unanswered tallies to pick up a 3-1 victory. Three different goal scorers – Alina Gerke, Sophia Lefranc and Mora Fernandez de Oliveira – were all assisted by Sophia Drees for the UVM offense. On Sunday, Sierra Espeland posted her 10^th career shutout as Vermont knocked off Stanford for the first time in program history, 1-0 in overtime. Drees provided the OT heroics on a penalty corner in the extra frame.
 
ESPELAND COLLECTS WEEKLY AWARD
 
For the first time this season and third of her career, Sierra Esoeland was named America East Defensive Player of the Week. UVM's all-time leader in wins made six saves in her shutout of Stanford and posted a 0.48 goals against average over the weekend.
 
ON A ROLL
 
Vermont has won a program-record six straight games and is 2-0 in league play for the second time under head coach Kate Pfeifer. UVM was 2-0 in 2018 on its way to a 4-4 league record and third-place finish in the East Division. The four conference wins in 2018 was a program record.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
 
Bryant comes into Friday's matchup – its first in America East play – with a 4-4 overall record and winner of three straight games. Brittany Gouws was named America East Offensive Player of the Week after registering 12 points last weekend on five goals and two assists. Olivia Clarke and Lotte Guitink each have four goals for the Bulldogs this season. Dieneke Hes has started all eight games in cage and enters the weekend with a 2.55 goals against average.
 
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
 
Northeastern enters the weekend with a 1-6 overall record and in the midst of a four-game losing streak. Mak Graves and Emmy Stubbs each have four goals for the Huskies in the early going while Jonna Kennedy has started all seven games in cages with a 3.33 goals against average. Vermont head coach Kate Pfeifer spent seven seasons on the Northeastern coaching staff including four as Associate Head Coach before coming to Burlington.
 
SERIES HISTORIES
 
The series history between Vermont and Bryant is brief but the Cats hold a 3-1 advantage in four all-time meetings between the two teams. UVM has won three straight against the Bulldogs including a 4-2 win last season. Northeastern – a former America East rival – boasts a convincing 25-1 record all-time versus Vermont. UVM is 1-1 in the last two meetings, however, including a 3-2 win in 2016.