FINAL SCORE: Marist 13, Vermont 9
BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Catamounts could not hold off a strong second-half push by Marist and suffered a 13-9 non-conference defeat on Saturday afternoon in the home opener.
 
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Vermont falls to 0-4 to start the season while Marist improves to 1-2.
 
The Cats had four players record two goals each – Meredith Moore, Brynne Yarranton, Alex Vignona, and Becca Olsen. Courtney Cole scored the additional goal for UVM. Alison Bolt and Moore dished out three assists apiece. Goalie Maddy Kuras stopped seven shots for the green and gold.
 
Marist had a balanced scoring attack as six different players found the back of the net. Natalie Bonaroti and Audrey Cerrone provided hat tricks while Olivia Pitonzo, Lauren Mazza, and Morgan Jaycoz netted two goals apiece. Abigail Witzczak earned the win in goal with six saves.
 
Olsen helped UVM jump out in front with a goal only three minutes into the game after the the assist came from Bolt. After Marist scored the equalizer, the Cats produced three unanswered goals for a 4-1 lead at the midway point of the half.
 
Cerrone added a goal for the Red Foxes at the 12:17 mark but the Cats responded once again. Moore stretched the lead to 5-2 with 11 minutes left and Yarranton closed at the half with a pair of goals. Marist found the back of the net in the final minute to cut UVM's lead down to 7-4 at the break.
 
The final-minute goal sparked five straight scores by the Red Foxes to open the second half and grabbed their first lead of the day 9-7. Vignona tried to get a rally going for UVM rally with her second goal of the afternoon with 12 minutes left on the clock. However, the Red Foxes closed out the game with four of the final five goals of the contest for the final margin of victory.
 
Vermont hits the road once again with a trip to Siena on Wednesday (March 1). The opening draw is set for 3 p.m. Fans can follow along with live stats at SienaSaints.com/GameTracker.
 
The Sheraton Burlington Hotel & Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the 2017 women's lacrosse season.