FINAL SCORE: Vermont 3, UMBC 1
BURLINGTON, Vt. – UVM junior Justin Freitas scored twice in the first half as Vermont topped UMBC 3-1 on Saturday night and officially clinched a spot in the upcoming 2017 America East Tournament. The Cats improved to 9-6 on the year and 4-1 in the league standings. UMBC drops to 7-4-4 overall and 2-2-1 in conference play.
 
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"With the last three games of the conference schedule, every point is important," head coach Rob Dow said. "Give credit to the guys, they were ready to play the match tonight."

Freitas used four minutes of the game clock to put the Catamounts out in front 1-0. Jon Arnar Barðdal played a ball out wide to Freitas who was standing near the edge of the box. The junior took one dribble and froze UMBC keeper Ciaran O'Loughlin (2 saves) with a line drive into the right side of the net.
 
UMBC answered with the equalizer in the 22nd minute when David Harris scored after receiving a long through ball from Gregg Hauck.
 
The Catamounts responded 21 seconds later with Freitas' second goal of the evening. Mikel Kabala booted a long pass from the sideline in front of the UVM bench and Freitas tracked down the feed, then lofted the go-ahead score from 25 yards out.
 
Geo Alves tacked on the fourth goal of the first half in the 30th minute. Daði Bærings Halldórsson bent a long cross into the six-yard box where Alves gathered the feed and fought off a UMBC defender before tapping a low shot past O'Loughlin.
 
UVM continued to add pressure to UMBC's defense in the second half. Midway through the final period, Dani Rovira faked out a defender and launched a bender towards the far post but his attempt resulted in a wide shot.
 
Vermont takes a quick break from league play and travels to Northeastern on Tuesday (Oct. 24) in the non-conference finale. Game time is set for 6 p.m. Free live video will be available at GoNUxstream.com.