| Follow @UVMwsoccer | Photos | CatamounTV Highlights
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Sophomores
Nikki McFarland and
Caitie Green connected 1:47 into overtime to lift the Vermont Catamounts out of a 2-0 deficit and post 3-2 win over Youngstown State on the final day of the TD Bank Classic in women's soccer action at Virtue Field.
With the victory, the Catamounts improved to 2-0 to start the season and won their own tournament title for the first time since 2009 and third time overall.
McFarland, who had the game-winning assist on UVM's game-winning tally in a 3-2 double-overtime victory over Central Connecticut on Friday, extends her consecutive goals streak to four games, dating back to last season. She finished the tournament with two goals and an assist and was named to the all-tournament team. Freshman
Sarah Martin added two goals in two days and joined McFarland on the all-tournament team. Junior midfielder
Caroline Greer also represented the Catamounts and was named the tournament MVP.
Vermont quickly fell behind 2-0 in the first nine minutes of the game. Youngstown State (0-2) drew a penalty kick in the sixth minute and Brittany Tenis was able to convert the shot, ricocheting it off the goal post, to put the Penguins in front 1-0.
YSU added its second goal three minutes later off a set piece. Macey Riese collected a bouncing ball off the re-start and knocked it over to Kathy Baquero inside the penalty box. She was able to find the back of the net for her first goal of the season.
Vermont climbed back within one in the 13th minute. Sophomore
Paige Phillips headed in a service from
Alex Jenkins on a free kick to put the Catamounts on the board. It was Phillips' first goal of the season and second of her career.
The Catamounts evened the score up with under five minutes left in the half. Off a short corner, Martin's blast from just outside the box found the far post. It was Martin's second goal in as many games and the two teams would head into halftime all square at 2-2.
Each team had scoring chances in the second half, but neither could find the go-ahead tally.
Vermont put the game away in the opening minutes of extra time. The Catamounts built an attack with some combination play. Green slipped a through pass onto McFarland in stride and McFarland buried it past Youngstown goalkeeper Jackie Podolsky as she came off her line to challenge the play.
Coco Speckmaier picked up the win in her debut in the Vermont net, making one stop. Podolsky was credited with three saves for the Penguins.
Central Connecticut defeated New Hampshire, 1-0, in the other game of the day.
The Catamounts will play the next four games on the road, starting with a match at Fordham on Friday (Aug. 29). Game time is set for 1 p.m. The game will be streamed online on Atlantic 10 All-Access at Atlantic10.com.
TD Bank Classic Awards Tournament Champion - Vermont (2-0-0)
Tournament MVP - Caroline Greer, Vermont
All-Tournament Team Caroline Greer, Vermont
Nikki McFarland, Vermont
Sarah Martin, Vermont
Tori Sousa, CCSU
Morgan Santoro, CCSU
Charlie Branch, CCSU
Hannah Blondin, UNH
Brooke Murray, UNH
Caroline Murray, UNH
Katherine Baquero, YSU
Brittany Tenis, YSU
NOTES: Sarah Martin has scored two goals in her first two collegiate games … Vermont has won back-to-back overtime games for the first time since 2001 … The Catamounts have scored three goals in both games this season, marking the first time since 1997 UVM has scored three or more goals in back-to-back games … Vermont starts the season at 2-0 for the first time since 2003.
