VESTAL, N.Y. – The Vermont men's lacrosse team scored five straight goals including three in 85 seconds in the second quarter as they defeated Binghamton 11-9 on the road Saturday afternoon in a matchup of two first place teams entering this weekend's action.
Vermont improved to 6-4 overall and 4-0 in America East action and Binghamton falls to 7-3 and 3-1.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score (pdf.)
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Great team win today versus a talented Binghamton squad on the road," Head Coach Chris Feifs said. "Proud of our guys for stepping up to the challenge."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After two early saves by Matt Shaffer Brock Haley opened the scoring for the Catamounts 4:34 into the first quarter. From behind the net Haley beat his defender with a hesitation move and then fired his 21st goal of the season past BU's Connor Winters.
• Binghamton would score the next three in the first quarter paired with eight saves from Winters to hold a 3-1 lead after the opening frame.
• After another BU goal to open the second Carson Boyle ended the Bearcats' run with his 11th goal in the last four games to make it 4-2. Just 50 seconds later he added another on the man up to make it a one-goal game with 10:45 left in the half.
• After Binghamton made it 5-3 with 7:22 to play in the half UVM answered back with a 3-0 run of their own in 85 seconds to take the lead into the half at 6-5. David Closterman, James Basile and Tristan Whitaker combined on the decisive swing for Vermont.
• 5:32 into the third quarter Haley gave UVM its first two-goal lead of the afternoon with a man up bouncer past Winters for his second goal of the game.
• Vermont made it five straight goals with another man up goal with 7:09 to play in the third quarter. Winters made a great save with Basile in-tight on the cage, but Charles Huntley got the ground ball, spun and fired it home for his fifth goal of the season. With the Catamounts up 8-5 Binghamton called timeout.
• The Bearcats scored the next two to cut it to 8-7 with 10:34 to play in the final frame.
• With 8:21 to play Whitaker took a pass from Haley and fired it home to reestablish Vermont's two-goal cushion. The tally made it his first-ever collegiate multi-goal game.
• In the final five minutes Closterman made it 10-7 and then Haley put it away with a hat trick tally with 1:35 left in regulation.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vermont is now 5-1 this season when scoring at least 10 goals.
• The Catamounts have won their last 16 games against conference opponents.
• Vermont handed Binghamton its first loss since March 7. Entering today's game both teams were 3-0 in league play.
• Binghamton's Connor Winters made a career-high 20 saves.
• Vermont was the first team this season to hold the Bearcats to less than 10 goals.
• With today's 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. 

WHO'S NEXT
Vermont is back in action next Saturday, April 15 as they host Bryant for the first time as an America East foe at Virtue Field. The 3:30 afternoon matchup is a first-place showdown between the two remaining undefeated America East teams. Fans can purchase tickets now at https://go.uvm.edu/ljchk. The action will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Brian McLaughlin on the call. At noon, the women's team will face Rutgers in a non-conference matchup.
 
Saturday's contests are Youth Day presented by Healthy Living.  There will be a Face Painter, Bounce House, Healthy Living giveaway bags, outdoor lawn games, arts and crafts, and Dunkin will be setup and sampling new products all afternoon. In addition, Saturday is also Poster Day presented by UVM Print & Mail. The men's lacrosse team will be signing the team posters following the contest.