FINAL SCORE: Vermont 3, #7 Minnesota Duluth 0
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont (1-0-0) shutout No. 7 Minnesota Duluth (2-1-0) 3-0 on Friday morning from Gutterson Fieldhouse during the team's Catamount Classroom Game presented by Community Bank.
Morgann Skoda,
Stella Retrum, and
Kaylee Lewis all found the back of the net while
Tara Bach anchored UVM with 36 total saves and her first shutout as a Catamount. With the win, Vermont notches its second season opening win over a ranked opponent in program history, the last one coming in 2014 when the Catamounts took down (at the time) No. 7 North Dakota 3-1.
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
CatamounTV Highlights
COACH'S QUOTE
"That was as a complete a game as we can play," said Head Coach
Jim Plumer. "We set the tone right from the start by playing in the offensive zone and getting the first goal. We got contributions up and down the lineup and of course it all started with
Tara Bach being a wall in net. It was a great way to start the season, now we've got to regroup and be ready for round two tomorrow,"
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Catamounts pounced on the scoreboard first 6:23 into play when a hard forecheck from Zoe Charland forced two Bulldog defenders to turn the puck over in the slot. Skoda was there to corral the loose puck and pin a shot to the top left corner, securing her first goal of the season, earning Vermont the opening 1-0 lead. UVM's opening goal marked the first time Minnesota Duluth had trailed this season.
- Vermont almost doubled its lead a little over six minutes into the middle frame when Lewis carried the puck into the Bulldog zone, dishing a behind the back pass to Lauren O'Hara who rifling a wrist shot towards goal, but the puck rang off the post, keeping the score at 1-0 in favor of UVM.
- With 3:29 remaining in the second period, the Catamounts doubled the lead when Lewis sent a pass to the point finding Linnéa Misner, who took a few strides and fired a shot on goal. Marilou Grenier made the initial save, but Retrum was in front to hammer in the rebound, securing her first goal of the season, putting Vermont ahead 2-0.
- Minnesota Duluth nearly found its first goal of the game when Caitlin Kraemer circled around Vermont's zone, ripping a snapshot to the left side, but her shot rang off the post as the Catamounts maintained their 2-0 lead.
- The Catamounts made it 3-0 while on the power play with 2:24 of regulation remaining, seeing Misner dish a pass to Lewis who was at the top of the circle. Lewis fired off a snapshot to the top left corner, notching her first goal of the season earning UVM a three-goal cushion.
- Vermont tamed any last push by the Bulldogs, skating away with the 3-0 shutout victory over No. 7 Minnesota Duluth from Gutterson Fieldhouse in the team's season opener.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Bach made 36 total saves in her Catamount debut, recording her first shutout in the Green and Gold, and fourth career clean sheet.
- Misner registered two assists against the Bulldogs in her Catamount debut, the fourth time in her career tallying two assists in the same game.
- Retrum and Lewis each notched two points on one goal and one assist.
- Lewis skated in her 100th career game on Friday morning.
- Skoda notched her first goal of the season to open scoring against the Bulldogs, her 23rd career goal.
- Rose-Marie Brochu won 14/18 faceoffs against Minnesota Duluth on Friday, one shy of tying a game high.
- O'Hara recorded a team high five shots on goal.
- UVM successfully killed both of Minnesota Duluth's power play opportunities on Friday. The Catamounts have killed 32 of 32 power plays in their last nine games dating back to last season.
- Vermont scored one goal on the power play.
- The Catamounts earned nine blocked shots to Minnesota Duluth's seven.
- This is Vermont's third ever victory against a member of the WCHA and first season opening win since the 2022-23 campaign.
- With today's Win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to the Ronald McDonald House through the Cat's Win, Community Win's initiative. Vermont Mutual has donated over $6.4 Million Dollars since launching their Charitable Giving Fund.
UP NEXT
Following Friday's win over No. 7 Minnesota Duluth to open the 2026-27 regular season, the Catamounts now get set to wrap up the two-game weekend series against the Bulldogs, taking the Gutterson Fieldhouse ice one again tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 3) in UVM's TD Home Opener. Puck drop is slated for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+. The first 500 fans in attendance can receive a free co-branded t-shirt, courtesy of TD. TD will be tabling in the Gutterson main lobby.
Women's Hockey Alumnae are invited back November 6-7 to Gutterson and Burlington for an Alumnae Weekend around Pack the Gut, including two games, an alumnae game and family skate and an alumnae gathering at What Ales You! Please register at
go.uvm.edu/wihalum.
For news and updates about the Vermont women's hockey program, follow @UVMwhockey on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.
The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program
