WOMEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
The Vermont women's soccer team opens up the 2017 regular season this weekend. The Catamounts host Sacred Heart on Friday (Aug. 18) at 7 p.m. under the lights of Virtue Field and travel to Rhode Island on Sunday (Aug. 20) at 1 p.m.
 
For Friday's contest, single game tickets are available at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or at the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office on gameday. Free live video is available in HD at AmericaEast.TV.
 
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV: Preseason Teaser (Twitter)
Sacred Heart: Video | Tickets
Rhode Island: Live Stats
 
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AMERICA EAST PRESEASON POLL
Vermont was picked to finish fifth in the 2017 America East Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll for the second year in a row and earned 32 points in the preseason rankings. Hartford, who squeaked by UVM with a 1-0 victory in last year's America East Semifinal Game, was picked as the preseason favorite with 58 points and tallied three first-place votes. Two-time defending champion Albany followed in second place with 57 points and received five first-place votes.
 
NEW CATS
Head coach Kristi Lefebvre, who begins her seventh season at the helm, welcomes nine newcomers to Burlington this fall – Ella Bankert, Maddie Eddleman, Malla Anna Eiríksdóttir, Kacey Lambertson, Maddie Masengarb, Maggie Matthijs, Angie Salvi, along with Holy Cross transfer Aly Spencer and St. Bonaventure transfer Abby McKearin.
 
A LOOK BACK AT 2016
The 2016 Catamounts made their second consecutive trip to the semifinal round of the America East Tournament, a first for the program. Three players earned America East honors – Sarah Martin was a Second Team All-Conference selection while Julia Smith and Brooke Jenkins made the All-Rookie Team. It marked the 12th straight season where a new Cat had garnered All-Rookie honors. In net, junior keeper Coco Speckmaier finished the season tied for the ninth-best goals-against average in program history at 1.05. She also cracked the top-10 in shutouts (6) and shattered the minutes played record (1,802).
 
SCOUTING SACRED HEART
The Pioneers were recently picked to finish fourth in the Northeast Conference (NEC) Preseason Coaches' Poll. Sacred Heart reached the NEC Tournament last season for the first time since 2012 as the No. 3 seed. The team returns a strong core from last year which includes four All-NEC selections - juniors Alex Mesropyan, Melanie DaSilva, and Nikki Zurawski made the Second Team and Caitlyn Buckley was an All-Rookie Team honoree. Junior netminder Nicole Sambuco had a solid sophomore season as she led the NEC with a 1.03 goals-against average and posted eight shutouts on the year.
 
SCOUTING RHODE ISLAND
Head coach Megan Jessee enters her first year on the sidelines with the Rams. In the Atlantic-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll, Jessee's girls were tabbed to finish 11th in the conference. URI returns 22 players from last season which included a trip to the A-10 Quarterfinals. The Rams lost their top two goal scorers but forward Taylor Ross returns for her senior season. Ross finished tied for second on the team in goals (4) and third in points (9). Junior forwards Emily Wakeford and Madison Waldron will join Ross up front after each netted a pair of goals in 2016. URI will rely on youth in net with three underclassmen – redshirt sophomore Haley Brennan along with freshmen Julia Freeman and Montana Ligman.  
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Green and Gold have won the only two previous matches against the Pioneers – both in Burlington. Back in 2001, UVM topped Sacred Heart 3-1 and then reached the win column again in 2013 with a 2-1 victory.
 
The all-time series with the Rams swings in the favor of URI. Rhode Island holds a 9-3-2 record against UVM but the meetings have been tight in recent years. The Cats are 1-2-1 since 2011 and three out of the last four games have been decided by one goal or less.
 
WHO'S NEXT
Vermont returns home to host Florida International on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 12 p.m. Single game tickets are available at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or at the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office on gameday. Free live video is available in HD at AmericaEast.TV.
 
Almartin Volvo is the presenting sponsor of the 2017 Vermont women's soccer season