FINAL SCORE: St. Joseph's 2, Vermont 1 (OT-Shootout 4-3)
EVANSTON, Ill. – Amy Noonan scored the decisive goal in the shootout as St. Joseph's (12-9, 6-0) topped Vermont (14-6, 2-3) 2-1 in the match and 4-3 in the shootout in the Opening Round of the NCAA Tournament Wednesday afternoon from Northwestern University's Lakeside Field.
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
Postgame: Coach Pfeifer
Social Reel: Enden Gl
COACH'S QUOTE
"What an exciting match, the result could have gone either way, and I was proud of how we attacked the game," said Head Coach
Kate Pfeifer. "Another beautiful finish on the corner from
Emily Enden, and really gritty defending throughout the match from our back and midfield lines. It's hard to see this season come to an end-it's a special team that has certainly left a legacy on our program as we continue to strive for new heights. Congratulations to St. Joe's on earning the opportunity to move on."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The two teams played a scoreless first quarter Wednesday afternoon. UVM had a 2-1 advantage in penalty corners, but the Hawks had a 2-0 edge in shots on goal.
- In the final seconds of the first quarter Vermont's Maddy Weaver cleared a loose ball just in front of the goal line to keep St. Joe's off the board and earn a defensive save.
- 90 seconds into the second quarter St. Joseph's had another outstanding opportunity as Erika Culp broke out on a breakaway with Gunner. Gunner came out to meet Culp and she just put a shot outside the post.
- Vermont opened the scoring 7:21 into the second quarter on their third penalty corner of the game. Veerle Nijhuis took the initial feed from Emily Enden and dished it quickly over to her left to Fiona McMahon. McMahon looked like she was going to shoot but she passed down low back to Enden who slid it home for her fourth goal of the year.
- After a scoreless third quarter the Hawks equalized with a corner 5:30 into the fourth. Alison Buffington played the ball into Monica Piccioli and she pushed it over to her right to Milou Kluyt. Kluyt blasted her eighth goal of the season home with a low bouncer to make it 1-1.
- Vermont almost won the game in regulation after Jaime Lewis forced a turnover in the St. Joe's 18 with 90 seconds left in regulation. In the chaos Addie Delorefice just missed putting home the game-winner.
- At the end of 60 minutes the Catamounts headed to overtime for the fifth time this season.
- In the opening minute of the extra-session St. Joe's Avianna Wagner robbed Consu de Castro on a redirect right in front of the cage.
- The Hawks put the pressure on Vermont during the rest of overtime. They earned four penalty corners and Gunner made two clutch stops to keep the game tied at one.
- Following the 15 minutes of overtime Vermont headed to a shootout for the second straight match. UVM and St. Joseph's had both won their league championship in a shootout. Just like Vermont's win over UAlbany the Catamounts substituted Gunner for first year keeper Milou Nijveldt.
- St. Joseph's keeper Wagner applied pressure early in the shootout and forced two Catamounts into shots that just missed the post. Nijveldt did stop Erika Culp in the shootout, but the Hawks advanced with Noonan's winner that clinched the shootout 4-3.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- With her assist this afternoon Fiona McMahon finished the season with 14 helpers, the second-most in program history. Only JoAnn Rathburn in 1990 had more (18).
- Ila Gunner had five saves today, the America East Goalkeeper of the Year finished the season with 44 total.
- St. Joseph's outshot Vermont 15-10, including 4-2 in the overtime session.
- In the Catamounts two NCAA Tournament matches Emily Enden and Maddie Priestly '26 have scored the two goals in Vermont NCAA Tournament history both at Northwestern's Lakeside Field.
For news and updates about the Vermont field hockey program, follow @UVMfieldhky on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.
