FINAL SCORE: Villanova 14, Vermont 12
BURLINGTON, Vt. –  Jane Trauger (5p, 4g, 1a) and Lydia Doraz (3g) each recorded a hat-trick during Vermont's (4-3) second game of a three game homestand, but UVM's fourth quarter comeback fell just short against Villanova (5-2) on Friday afternoon from Virtue Field as the Wildcats walked away with the 14-12 road non-conference victory over the Catamounts.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Today was a really special day with it being our Rally for Cancer game. To be able to celebrate Murray and her journey, means a lot to me and this program. I'm proud of our fight. We will learn a lot from this loss against an incredible opponent in Villanova." – Head Coach Sarah Dalton Graddock
 
 HOW IT HAPPENED

• Villanova's Kathryn Monaco kicked off scoring 48 seconds into the game, but the Catamounts responded, seeing Lydia Doraz score an equalizer with 13:30 showing on the clock in the first frame of action, knotting the score at 1-1.
• The Wildcats regained the lead courtesy of Sophia Corretjer scoring her fifth goal of the season, but Vermont once again bounced back with 2:26 remaining in the first quarter when Karina Sethi successfully executed on her free position attempt, scoring her 10th goal of the season, knotting the score at 2-2.
• Vermont gained its first lead of the game with 12:34 on the clock in the second frame when Ava Wilde fed Caitlin Haggerty in the slot with a precise pass, seeing Haggerty pin the bottom left corner with a shot, securing her first goal of the contest to earn the Catamounts a 3-2 advantage.
• Sethi scored her second goal of the game with 6:37 remaining in the second quarter, deking her way around a Wildcat defender before sniping a shot to the top right corner, maintaining the Catamount lead, 4-3.
• Bella Piselli picked off a clear attempt by Vermont, allowing her to score on a breakaway with 4:08 remaining before halftime, knotting the game at 4-4.
• The Wildcats opened the third quarter getting a goal from Mary Moore to gain a 5-4 lead, but UVM rallied back, seeing Jane Trauger secure her ninth goal of the season, driving to the slot and pinning the top right corner, tying the contest at 5-5 with 13:24 on the clock in the third frame.
• Each team took turns trading goals once again when Rose Christie regained the lead for Villanova, scoring her sixth goal on the campaign, but Trauger bounced back for the Catamounts, scoring her second straight goal to bring Vermont equal with the Wildcats, 6-6, displaying a series of moves to create space for a side arm shot to the top right corner, her 10th goal of the season with 10:33 on the clock in the third frame.
• The Catamounts gained the lead with 8:15 on the clock in the third quarter when Lindsay Lefebvre found Ava Wilde for her fifth goal of the season, propelling UVM to a 7-6 advantage over Villanova.
• Villanova concluded the third quarter orchestrating four unanswered goals, bringing a 10-7 lead into the final 15 minutes of play.
• Doraz opened scoring in the fourth quarter with 13:55 remaining in regulation, getting fed a pass from Ali Cabot, scoring her 17th goal on the campaign to cut the deficit to two-goals, 10-8, in favor of Villanova.
• Jillian Vaught responded for Villanova to make the score 11-8 in favor of the Wildcats, but Doraz pounced back on the next Vermont offensive possession, scoring her third goal of the game, bringing UVM within two, 11-9, with 11:33 of regulation remaining.
• Following a Wildcat goal to make it 12-9, Vermont bounced back with 6:57 remaining in regulation when Trauger set up Lauren Lefebvre perfectly in the slot, seeing Lefebvre score her first goal of the game, making the score 12-10 still in favor of Villanova.
• Vermont scored a second consecutive goal 27 second later to cut the deficit to one, seeing Haggerty find Trauger who scored a hat-trick to make the score 12-11 in favor of the Wildcats with 6:30 of regulation remaining.
• Two big saves from Ayla Shea with just over five minutes remaining in regulation resulted in Vermont getting an opportunity to tie the contest on the other end, seeing Trauger snipe in her fourth goal of the game, 22nd of the season, knotting the game at 12-12 with 4:35 left to play on the clock.
• Villanova got goals from Christie and Moore to get ahead 14-12, seeing the Catamounts fall behind by two goals with just 44 seconds of regulation remaining.
• Vermont attempted to make a comeback with time quickly expiring, but an attempt from Trauger rang off the post and Makenzie Fisher made one more save before the final buzzer sounded as Villanova walked away with the 14-12 road victory from Virtue Field.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Trauger tied a season high scoring five points on four goals and one assist. Her five points was a game high while her four goals were another tied season high. Trauger also tied a team high five shots on goal.
• Doraz recorded her fourth hat-trick of the season and tied a team high five shots on goal, scoring three goals against Villanova to go along with three draw controls and two caused turnovers. Her two caused turnovers tied a season high.
• Kiera Larney registered a career high six ground balls, also marking a game-high on Friday afternoon.
• Shea recorded a career high 13 saves against Villanova on Friday.
• Sethi tallied two goals against Villanova, her third multi-goal game of the season.
• Haggerty and Wilde each notched two points on one goal and one assist. It marks both players fifth multi-point game on the campaign.
• UVM corralled 16 ground balls to Villanova's 12.
• The Catamounts caused eight turnovers to the Wildcat's seven. 

 
UP NEXT
The Catamounts will return to action on Wednesday (Mar. 11), concluding a three game homestand against Fairfield from Virtue Field. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on AmericaEast.TV.