FINAL SCORE: Vermont 1, Maine 0

BURLINGTON, Vt. – No. 1-seeded Vermont defeated No. 5 Maine, 3-1, in a shootout  Tuesday afternoon at Moulton Winder Field to advance to the America East Championship. Vermont will play in its second America East Championship in as many years.

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Box Score  

COACH'S QUOTE

" Gritty semi-final performance," said Head Coach Kate Pfeifer. "Really proud of the resolve the team showed down the stretch. We knew Maine would bring their best today, and we were able to rise above it and execute when it counted. We are thrilled to be able to host the America East Championship final on Friday." 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamounts controlled the first half of the game, having the edge on Maine in shots with a 5-2 advantage at the half, but the score was still deadlocked at zero.

• Maine controlled the game in the second half, outshooting the Catamounts 13-7 from the second half through the second overtime. 

• First-year Gabby Santini scored the first goal of the shootout for the Catamounts. She maneuvered around Maine goalkeeper Rozárie Mrázová, drawing a trip and earning a penalty stroke. She made the most of the opportunity, firing a shot to the left of Mrázová to give Vermont a 1-0 lead to start the shootout.

• Junior Eloise Penty responded for the Black Bears, carrying the ball in close to Sophomore Merle Vaandrager before turning and slotting it into the far-right corner.

• First-year Veerle Nijhuis was next up for the Catamounts. She opened on her forehand before switching to her backhand as she closed in on Mrázová, sliding the shot into the back of the net.

• Vaandrager dropped to one knee and shut down senior Taylor Katsube's attempt as she closed in.

• Junior Consu de Castro approached Mrázová with a burst of speed, switched to her backhand up close, and scored the third goal of the shootout. 

• Vaandrager would then lunge to deny Junior Nicole Kowalewski's try at the shootout. 

• The Black Bear's final attempt to keep the shootout alive was by senior Olivia Geniti, which Vaandrager would swat away. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Catamounts had 16 shots to Maine's 12. 

• Vaandrager recorded a nine-save shutout. 

• Santini, Nijhuis, and Castro all scored in the shootout. 

• Vermont had nine penalty corners to Maine's 

• With today's Win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to the Lund Family Center through the Cat's Win, Community Win's initiative.  Vermont Mutual has donated over $5 Million Dollars since launching their Charitable Giving Fund in 2014.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts will host the New Hampshire Wildcats in the America East Championship match on Friday, Nov. 07, at 1 p.m. on Moulton Winder Field. The game will be streamed on ESPN +. 

For news and updates about the Vermont Field Hockey program, follow @UVMfieldhky on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com