FINAL SCORE: Vermont 1, Bryant 1
SMITHFIELD, RI. – Bailey Ayer gets the lone goal for Vermont (8-5-4, 3-4-1 AE), her league best 12th of the season, as the Catamounts battled to a 1-1 draw with Bryant (5-7-4, 3-3-1 AE) on Sunday afternoon from Beirne Stadium. With the draw, Vermont clinches a bid to the 2024 America East playoff Tournament, the second season in a row earning a bid to the playoffs, 13th time in the last 20 seasons. UVM is guaranteed to be either the No. 5 seed or the No. 6 seed depending on how the rest of league play concludes on Thursday, Oct. 31 (Vermont has a bye).
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"We're proud of our efforts today to grind out a valuable point on the road," said Head Coach Kristi Huizenga. "Bryant gets a lot of numbers behind the ball defensively and I thought we did well to solve that and execute our moment."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bulldogs nearly struck first in the ninth minute, seeing Makayla Griffin break free, finding a prime scoring position to rip a shot on net, but Kylee Carafoli was there to make the spectacular save, the 100th save of her career, keeping Bryant off the scoreboard.
• Vermont saw its best chance of the half in the 30th minute when Jazlyn Oviedo unleashed a shot with her right foot from 30 yards out, ringing her shot off the crossbar, sending the ball up and over the net. The match was scoreless for the remainder of the half with the scoreboard reading 0-0 heading into halftime. Vermont outshot Bryant 15-10 to this point with the Bulldogs pinning four shots on net.
• The Catamounts pounced first, securing the opening goal in the 60th minute when Oviedo and Sydney Remington set up Ayer in front of the net, sniping a shot with her right foot past the Bryant goalkeeper for her league best 12th goal of the season, earning Vermont the 1-0 lead.
• Bryant responded a little over four minutes later in the 64th minute thanks to Jordyn Collins cashing in after receiving a pass from Caitlin Forshay, knotting the match, 1-1.
• Both teams had their chances down the stretch of the final half, but no goals were scored, as the match came down to a draw, 1-1 on Sunday afternoon.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vermont secured a bid to the America East playoff for the second year in a row, fourth time in five seasons.
• Ayer notched one goal vs the Bulldogs, securing her 12th goal of the season. Ayer has tallied four goals in the last five matches and rises to being tied for second all-time in UVM women's soccer history for most goals in a single season.
• Ayer also recorded a couple of game-highs in shots and shots on goal, earning a new career high 10 shots, pinning three on goal. Ayer's 10 shots is the most by any Catamount this season.
• Remington tallied one assist vs Bryant, securing her fourth assist of the season, eighth point. Remington has notched three assists in the last three matches.
• Oviedo registered her second career point, earning one assist on Sunday afternoon, her first point since the 2022 campaign.
• Jill Brody earned a new career high in shots, dialing up eight total vs the Bulldogs.
• Carafoli notched six total saves for the Catamounts, the fifth time this season recording six or more saves in a single match. It's the second time in her career notching six saves in back-to-back matches.
• UVM outshot Bryant 26-23, pinning four shots on net to the Bulldogs' seven.

 
UP NEXT
Following the 1-1 draw with Bryant, Vermont earned a spot in the 2024 America East Playoffs and will have to wait until the end of regular season play on Thursday, Oct. 31, to see who their opponent will be in the opening round along with the location and the start time. The Catamounts have officially locked in either the No. 5 seed or the No. 6 seed, securing a quarterfinal appearance on the road.
 
For news and updates about the Vermont women's soccer program, follow @UVMwsoccer on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.

EastRise Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont soccer