FINAL SCORE: No. 5 Stony Brook 2, No. 6 Vermont 1
STONY BROOK, N.Y. – No. 5 seed Stony Brook held off No. 6 seed Vermont for a 2-1 victory in the Catamounts' first-ever America East Championship Game on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Kenneth P. Lavalle Stadium on Long Island.
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UVM closes the 2017 season at 9-9-2, while the Seawolves advance to the NCAA Tournament as conference champions with a record of 11-10-1.
Coco Speckmaier,
Sarah Martin, and
Brooke Jenkins were all named to the America East All-Tournament Team. Jenkins also received the league's Elite 18 Award for her combined efforts on the field and in the classroom.
Speckmaier made an aggressive save in the opening minute, coming out to the top of her 18-yard box to deny Alyssa Francese with a leg stop.
The Seawolves took the lead in the 18th minute after a combination passing play on the left side of the penalty area. Kaitlin Loughren received a pass on the flank from Fanny Gotesson and centered to Francese, who one-timed a shot into the upper left corner with the outside of her right foot.
Stony Brook doubled their lead in the 33rd minute on an individual effort from substitute Manuela Corcho. The senior made an interior move to her right inside the UVM box before drilling a low right-footed shot far side to beat Speckmaier.
Stony Brook took a 2-0 lead into the locker room despite a 4-3 shot advantage for Vermont.
Martin cut the lead in half in the 62nd minute as she rifled a low shot into the right corner of the net for her fourth of the season, beating Sofia Manner (5 saves) from 20 yards out. Jenkins and
Savana Yurick helped create the chance and UVM trailed by just one.
Near the 70th minute,
Angie Salvi curled a 30-yard effort toward the right post but it drifted wide. Martin had another attempt in the final two minutes, but her low shot skipped on goal and was saved by Manner.
The Catamounts brought Speckmaier into the attack in the closing seconds, but their final cross was cleared and Stony Brook held on for the win. UVM finished with a 12-4 edge in shots in the title game.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Vermont, which posted its highest single-season win total since 2004.
Almartin Volvo is the presenting sponsor of the 2017 women's soccer season
