FINAL SCORE: Vermont 2, Niagara 0
BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Catamounts earned their first shutout victory of the season with a 2-0 showing against Niagara on Sunday in the final contest of the Peter Baldwin Memorial Classic, presented by Morgan Stanley.
 
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Vermont evens its record at 2-2 while Niagara is left searching for its first win of the season at 0-4. In his Catamount debut, netminder Alex Popovich (4 saves) earned his first career shutout.
 
"It was a difficult lesson on Friday night, but the good thing is that 48 hours later we can get it right like we did today with a shutout," head coach Rob Dow said. "I think this is progress towards building the character of our team. We can rebound and come out and fight."
 
The Green and Gold were on the attack from the opening kickoff. In the third minute, Geo Alves launched a free kick from the left side of the field where the 6-4 frame of Arnar Steinn Hansson leaped up for the header, but the sophomore's shot was stopped by Niagara keeper Joel Gerberich (6 saves).
 
In the 14th minute, the Cats jumped on the scoreboard with an own goal. Danny Orrego bent a sweeping cross from the right side of the box towards the net which deflected off a Purple Eagles defender for the first score of the game.
 
Early in the second half, Vermont was searching for the second goal of the match when Alves dribbled towards the right corner of the box and found Justin Freitas cutting up the field in the slot. Freitas aimed his shot towards the near post, but Gerberich made the diving save to keep the 1-0 score intact.
 
The Catamounts nearly padded their lead in the 69th minute with some nifty footwork from Alves. The junior forward created space for himself on the right side of the field and lined a shot on goal but the attempt resulted in another Gerberich save.
 
UVM added an insurance goal in the 72nd minute with Alves' fourth goal of the season. Tom Cole carved the goal line and toed a low cross to Alves, who buried a one-timer into the left side of the net.
 
The Cats had a trio land on the Peter Baldwin Memorial Classic All-Tournament Team – Mikel Kabala, Daði Bærings Halldórsson, and Alves. In the championship match, Central Connecticut State defeated Florida Gulf Coast 2-0 to win the tournament title and CCSU's Louis Beddouri was named the Peter Baldwin Memorial Classic's Most Valuable Player.
 
Vermont closes out a three-game homestand on Saturday (Sept. 9) when Yale visits Burlington at 7 p.m. The contest is UVM's annual Rally Against Cancer game presented by Otter Creek Awnings and Vermont Custom Closets. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of the cancer research initiative. Single game tickets are available at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or at the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office on gameday. Free live video will be available in HD at AmericaEast.TV.
 
2017 PETER BALDWIN MEMORIAL CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Louis Beddouri, Central Connecticut State (MVP)
Sean Gannon, Central Connecticut State
Andres Muriel Albino, Central Connecticut State
Filippo Pirola, Central Connecticut State
Preston Kilwein, Florida Gulf Coast
Miguel Jaime, Florida Gulf Coast
Nicolas Samayoa, Florida Gulf Coast
Geo Alves, Vermont
Daði Bærings Halldórsson, Vermont
Mikel Kabala, Vermont
Matthew Krucko-Moeller, Niagara