FINAL SCORE: No. 16 Vermont 2, Stony Brook 1 (2OT)
BURLINGTON, Vt. – The 16th-ranked Catamounts capped off a 2-1 comeback double overtime victory over Stony Brook on Saturday afternoon in the America East opener.
Loftur Eriksson scored in the final minute of regulation on a penalty kick and
Brian Wright scored the walk-off goal in the 105th minute.
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Highlights
Box Score
"We have been winning a lot of games when we have leads and maybe out-talenting teams. We showed a lot of unity by sticking with it today. In the conference, it's only a moment or two that make the difference in the game and our guys stuck with it, found the moment, and made it happen," head coach
Jesse Cormier expressed about his team after the win.
The Catamounts controlled the offensive tempo throughout most of the game by winning the shots advantage, 24-8, and corner kicks, 12-4.
UVM had plenty of scoring chances in the first half. In the third minute,
Stefan Lamanna dribbled into the box and dished a pass off to Wright, who's touch was only a few inches wide of the right post.
Later in the half, the Catamounts forced the Seawolves' defense on their heels with three straight shots off deflections, but could not find the back of the net.
Stony Brook scored the first goal of the conference matchup in the 73rd minute. Danny Espinoza sent a right-foot cross into the box. After Espinoza's pass took two hops, Vince Erdei hustled to knock in the one-timer into the left side of the net.
The Catamounts were forced to pick up the tempo in the final minutes to force the game into an extra session.
Shane Haley marched through the Stony Brook defense in the box and was brought down to the ground after some pressure, causing a Stony Brook foul and presenting Vermont with a penalty kick as only 47 ticks remained on the clock.
On the kick, Loftur Erikkson stepped up and fired a line drive into the right side of the net after Stony Brook goalie Tom McMahon dove to his left.
In the first overtime period, Lamanna had a chance to end the game with a shot but McMahon made a diving save to keep the score 1-1.
Wright recorded his second double-overtime game-winner of the season midway through the second overtime session.
Charlie DeFeo sent a low cross to the right side of the goal, where Wright was there for the one-timer while battling off a Stony Brook defender.
The conference opener was the annual Rally Against Cancer Game, presented by Otter Creek Awnings and Vermont Custom Closets, as the team wore pink socks. Vermont travels to Albany on Friday (Oct. 7) under the lights at 7 p.m. in the first America East road test of the season. All the action can be seen live for free in HD via AmericaEast.TV.
