BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont (8-8, 3-3 AE) travels to Albany, NY, on Thursday (Nov. 7) to face UMass Lowell (10-7, 3-3 AE) in the America East quarterfinals. The game will start at 2 p.m. and be streamed live on ESPN+, with Michael Johnson Jr. and Kristie Becker on the call.
 
RELATED LINKS
Thursday vs. Lowell: Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
 
VERMONT OUTLOOK

• Vermont finishes the regular season 8-8 overall and 3-3 in conference play, earning the fourth seed heading into the tournament.
• The Catamounts return to the tournament for the third year. They are looking to advance past the quarterfinal game for the first time in program history. 
• Marie Dijkstra continues to lead Vermont in points with 27 in the regular season.  She has accumulated the most points for a single season by any Catamount since 2017.
• Merle Vaandrager proved steady in net, posting four career shutouts in her rookie season and a save percentage of 0.796. 
• Vaandrager leads America East with a goals-against average of 1.15. 
• Vermont had five players earn America East recognition, with Sophia Drees picking up three, including Defensive Player of the Year.
• Dijkstra earned two as she was named to the All-Conference Second and All-Rookie teams.
• Vaandrager, Sophia Lefranc, and Lara Cleophas were the others who earned awards.

 
SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS

• Lowell finished the regular season 10-7 overall and 3-3 in conference play, landing in the fifth seed heading into the tournament. 
• Madison Leeper leads the River Hawks in points with 26 in the regular season.
• Karlijn Kerkhof was named America East Rookie of the Week after recording a goal and an assist from their last two games.
• Lowell's goalkeepers have consistently split time in the net.  Christina Calendra finished the regular season with a save percentage of 0.654 and Marie Oliemans with a 0.855 percentage.
• Vermont and Lowell met during the regular season, and the Catamounts won 3-1. Sophia Drees, Lotte Kanters, and Meg Weyer scored for the Catamounts, and Karli Penrod scored the lone River Hawk goal. 

 
The second quarterfinal match-up will be between Maine (3) and UC Davis (6), with the winner facing New Hampshire (2) in the semi-finals.  The winner of Vermont (4) and UMass Lowell (5) will play UAlbany (1) for the other semi-final game. Semifinals will be held on November 8th. 
 
For news and updates about the Vermont field hockey program, follow @UVMfieldhky on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.