FINAL SCORE: Vermont 0, #16 Rutgers 2

BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Catamounts (0-2, 0-0 AE) fell to the No. 16 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-0, 0-0 B1G), 2-0, in their second regular season match on Sunday afternoon at Moulton Winder Field.  

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Box Score

COACH'S  QUOTE

"We came out strong today and created some good chances," said head coach Kate Pfeifer. "I was pleased to see a lot of improvement in our ball pressure and counterattack decisions. This group has real fight in them, which we'll need as we head on the road."

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• For the first 30 minutes of play, both teams held strong defensively, with neither team putting the hockey ball in the back of the goal. 

• In the 32nd minute, Rutgers senior defender Puck Winter converted a penalty stroke to put the Scarlet Knights on the board.

• The Catamounts responded with an offensive push, recording several shots on goal by Maddie Priestly, Consu de Castro, and Veerle Nijhuis in the 33rd minute.

• Rutgers doubled their lead in the 38th minute when sophomore forward Sophie Kuiper scored her first goal of the season off an assist from Olivia Fraticelli.

• Late in the third quarter, UVM goalkeeper Merle Vaandrager made a series of impressive saves on Ashley Arnold and Maddie Kidd of Rutgers, that kept the deficit at 2–0 in favor of the Scarlet Knights.
   

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Catamounts had a total of eight shots on goal, with four coming from junior forward Consu de Castro.

• Merle Vaandrager tallied seven saves on nine shots faced.

• Eight different Rutgers players recorded at least one shot on goal.

• The Scarlet Knights had eight penalty corners, to the Catamount's three.
   

UP NEXT
The Catamounts have their first road match against the Terriers of Boston University on Friday, Sept. 5. The game will start at 4 PM and can be viewed on ESPN+.  
 

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