Box Score FINAL SCORE: Vermont 12, UMBC 10
BALTIMORE – Vermont (7-7, 3-2 AE) secured its third consecutive trip to the America East Tournament on Saturday when it defeated UMBC (7-6, 1-4 AE) in a thrilling 12-10 comeback victory at UMBC Stadium. The Catamounts erased a seven-goal deficit in the win.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score (Will be available at a later date)
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"I'm beyond proud of our team for finishing that game and getting the win," head coach Sarah Dalton Graddock said. "We did not have a great first half and we need to make sure we learn from all moments in this game moving forward. Incredible mental toughness to finish the way we did and clinch a spot in the tournament."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jane Trauger scored the game's first goal just 0:49 into the contest, but the Retrievers answered with seven-straight goals to lead 7-1 at the break. Shannon Finch scored UMBC's first two goals to put the squad ahead. Lauren Cremen also had two goals in the first-quarter run.
• Claire Bockstie grew the UMBC lead to as big as seven goals with an early second-quarter tally that put the Retrievers up 8-1 with 11:40 remaining in the frame.
• Ava Vasile ended the UVM scoring drought when she scored a woman-up tally with 8:54 left in the second quarter. The senior later found Kristiana Strtak who cut the UVM lead to 8-3 before the break.
• Vasile added two more goals in the first 1:31 of the third quarter to cut the Vermont deficit to 8-5. UMBC quickly countered with goals from Megan Halczuk and Colby Weedon to take a 10-5 lead with 10:07 left in the third quarter.
• McKenzie Ballard scored an unassisted goal with 5:07 remaining in the third quarter as the Cats trailed 10-6 heading into the final frame.
• Vermont scored six unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback. Vasile and Ciera Licare each scored twice to lead the Catamounts in the final frame.
• Licare tied the game at 10-10 with her second goal of the quarter, coming with 7:10 left on the clock. Vasile netted the clinching goal a minute later, scoring her fifth goal of the game. Maddie Erskine added an insurance marker with 3:07 remaining.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vermont's third consecutive America East Tournament berth matches the longest streak in program history. The Catamounts' last streak came from 2013 to 2015.
• Vasile moved to No. 2 on the program's all-time goals list with her second goal of the game. The senior matched a season-high five goals to bring her career total to 156.
• With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to King Street Center as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since its inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $80,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. 

UP NEXT
Vermont closes out the regular season on Saturday (Apr. 29) when it hosts UMass Lowell at 12 p.m. at Virtue Field. The Catamounts will honor 10 seniors on Senior Day, presented by the UVM Alumni Association. The matchup will broadcast live on ESPN 3. Tickets are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or by visiting the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office on gameday.