STORRS, Conn. – The Catamounts (0-0-1) battled back-and-forth with UConn (0-0-1) on Saturday (Aug. 17) night in a game that ended in a 2-2 tie at Morrone Stadium from Storrs. Vermont gained offensive momentum in the second half, gathering goals from Aubrey Bough and Bailey Ayer, while getting help on the defensive side from Kylee Carafoli, making eight saves throughout the entire matchup.

RELATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)

COACH'S QUOTE
"This was a great early season test for our group against a very strong UConn team," said Head Coach Kristi Huizenga. "We showed great leadership from our upperclassmen to manage the big moments in the game. Aubrey and Bailey had some excellent finishes today and I'm proud of how many chances we created."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• An early rush by the Huskies 0:33 into the match forced junior goalkeeper Carafoli to make a big save, halting a four-on-one rush, keeping the game scoreless, 0-0.
• Vermont stormed back in the 6th minute, dialing up a prime scoring opportunity for Lauren DeGroot, who rifled a shot bottom center of the net, but Huskie's goalkeeper Mahoney Kaitlyn was there to make the save.
• Chioma Okafor struck first for UConn during the 43rd minute, pinning her shot on the underside of the crossbar, going bar down to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.
• In the 58th minute, Okafor gained speed in the box, turning the corner on the Catamount defender where she unleashed a shot to the bottom right of the net, but Carafoli was there to answer the call, making her fourth save of the night, keeping the score at 1-0 in favor of UConn.
• In the 67th minute, Vermont knotted the score at 1-1 when Ayer crossed the ball to the center of the box after a pinch from the UConn goalie, finding Bough in the slot, who buried her shot between the pipes to secure her first career goal as a Catamount.
• A critical turnover by UConn allowed the Catamounts to capitalize in the 73rd minute, taking a 2-1 lead after Ayer ripped a shot with her right foot, putting the ball top left on the net, earning Vermont their first lead of the match.
• Abbey Jones tied the score for UConn in the 81st minute of play, finding the top left corner of the net, bringing the score to 2-2 with nine minutes of action left to play.
• Neither team found the back of the net in the final minutes, as the match ended in a 2-2 draw. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Bough scored her first career goal Saturday night, taking three total shots, one short of tying a career-high.
• Ayer tallied one goal and one assist, garnering three total points against the Huskies, the third time in her career registering a goal and an assist in the same game. Ayer totaled two shots on goal.
• Jazlyn Oviedo notched two shots, the third time in her career tallying two or more shots.
• Carafoli saw 23 shots come her way, 10 on goal, making eight total saves, the second most in her career throughout a single game.

UP NEXT
Following Saturday's matchup with the Huskies, the Catamounts will host Saint Anslem in their home opener on Wednesday, August 21 at 6 p.m. ET. Wednesday's contest will be the first-ever matchup between these two teams in program history. Tickets can be purchased through UVM Athletics Ticket Central. The game will also be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
For news and updates about the Vermont women's soccer program, follow @UVMwsoccer on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.

New England Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont soccer