FINAL SCORE: Vermont 14, UMass Lowell 12
LOWELL, Mass. – Six different Catamounts registered a multi-goal game on Saturday afternoon as Vermont (9-6, 5-1 AE) defeated UMass Lowell (6-10, 2-4 AE) 14-12 in the team's regular season finale from Cushing Field. With the win, the Catamounts secure the Regular Season Championship for the first time in program history and clinch the No. 1 seed in the America East Women's Lacrosse Playoffs for the first time in program history.  
 
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Box Score
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Prior to the first media timeout with 8:33 on the clock in the first quarter, UMass Lowell got out to a 2-0 lead, getting an opening goal from Bronwyn Hilbert followed by Georgia Ruscitti doubling the Riverhawk lead less than two minutes later. Vermont's Maddie Erskine rang a shot off the post at the 11:38 mark of the first quarter before the UMass Lowell offensive push, but it was the Riverhawks that gained the two-goal lead.
• The Catamounts captured their first goal of the game at 7:25 in the opening frame, seeing Lauren Lefebvre successfully execute on a free position opportunity, scoring her 14th goal of the season to bring Vermont within one, down 2-1 in favor of UMass Lowell.
• Ruscitti bounced back for the Riverhawks, scoring her second goal of the game a little over a minute after the Catamounts secured their first goal of the game, regaining UMass Lowell the two-goal lead, 3-1, with 6:45 left in the first quarter.
• Ava Wilde scored her seventh goal on the campaign two minutes later as the Catamounts clawed back to within one, 3-2, but Ruscitti responded once again, securing a first quarter hat trick while UMass Lowell was a woman-up, regaining the two-goal lead with 3:37 remaining in the first quarter as the Riverhawks led 4-2.
• The Catamounts concluded scoring in the opening frame with 2:50 left to play in the quarter, seeing Lindsay Lefebvre score her 12th goal of the season as Vermont stayed within striking distance, down by one, 4-3, entering the second quarter of action.
• UMass Lowell opened scoring in the second quarter, seeing Chiara Pompei unleash a rocket to the bottom left corner, earning the Riverhawks a 5-3 lead with 11:57 on the clock in the second frame.
• Following the UML goal from Pompei, the Catamounts bounced back scoring three unanswered goals, getting two from Lauren Lefebvre, securing her first half hat-trick followed by Karina Sethi scoring her 21st goal of the season as Vermont gained its first lead of the game, 6-5, with 10:39 remaining before halftime. Erskine notched her first assist of the season on Lauren Lefebvre's hat trick goal.
• Jane Trauger and Ali Cabot each scored one goal for Vermont before the 3:11 mark in the second quarter, adding to the Catamounts' five goal scoring run, seeing UVM gain an 8-5 advantage with time quickly winding down before halftime.
• UMass Lowell was able to net one more goal before halftime, but it was the Catamounts that brought a two-goal lead into the break, leading the Riverhawks 8-6 behind a first half hat trick from Lauren Lefebvre and four saves from Ayla Shea.
• The Catamounts opened scoring in the third frame seeing Lydia Doraz display an incredible solo effort, maneuvering her way to the front of the net avoiding Riverhawk defenders, firing a shot past the UML goalie for her 33rd tally of the season, earning Vermont a 9-6 advantage with 11:55 on the clock in the third quarter.
• Just 25 seconds later, Doraz fed Trauger in the slot who used her left hand to fire a shot bar down, securing her second goal of the game, gaining UVM a 10-6 lead with 11:30 on the clock.
• By the 7:29 mark in the third frame, UMass Lowell orchestrated back-to-back unanswered goals, seeing Grace Lydon and Hilbert find the back of the net as the Riverhawks attempted to make a comeback on home turf. Vermont maintained the lead, 10-8.
• Vermont concluded the third quarter on a 3-1 scoring run, getting goals from Doraz, Sethi, and Lindsay Lefebvre, taking a 13-9 lead into the final quarter of play.
• Cabot notched her second goal of the game to open scoring in the final quarter of play, picking the left side of the net, earning UVM a 14-9 lead with 12:41 of regulation remaining.
• The Riverhawks attempted to make a comeback scoring three unanswered goals down the stretch in the fourth quarter, but the damage was already done as Vermont walked away with the 14-12 road victory, clinching the No. 1 seed in the America East Women's Lacrosse Playoffs.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vermont clinches the No. 1 seed in the America East Women's Lacrosse Playoffs for the first time in program history.
• Vermont also secured the Regular Season Championship for the first time in program history with the win over UMass Lowell.
• Lauren Lefebvre notched a hat trick on a tied game high five shots on goal on Saturday, her second hat trick of the season.
• Lindsay Lefebvre recorded three points on two goals and one assist.
• Doraz had a team high four points on two goals and two assists while corralling a game high and career high 10 draw controls.
• Trauger scored three points on two goals and one assist to go along with a tied game high five shots on goal and one ground ball.
• Sethi scored two goals against UMass Lowell, her sixth multi-goal game of the season.
• Cabot secured two goals on Saturday to go along with one ground ball and one caused turnover, her third career multi-goal game.
• Wilde had two points on one goal and one assist while causing one turnover against the Riverhawks.
• Sabine Godwin registered a game high three caused turnovers to go along with a tied game high two ground balls. Godwin also added six draw controls.
• Shea posted nine total saves on Saturday, the ninth time this season making nine or more saves in a single game, and third straight outing doing so.
• UVM outshot UMass Lowell on goal 19-18.
• The Catamounts went a perfect 13-13 on clear attempt against the Riverhawks.
• Vermont corralled 18 draw controls to UMass Lowell's 10.
• 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 Million Dollars since launching their Charitable Giving Fund in 2014.

 
UP NEXT
Following the win over UMass Lowell in the team's final game of the regular season, the Catamounts have clinched the No. 1 seed and will host the America East Women's Lacrosse Playoffs from Virtue Field for the first time in program history. Vermont will face No. 4 seeded UMBC on Friday (May 1) at 4 p.m. from Virtue Field. Fans can also catch all the action streaming live on ESPN+.
 
For news and updates about the Vermont men's lacrosse program, follow @UVMwlax on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.