WOMEN'S LACROSSE NOTEBOOK
Vermont (5-1) will take its three-game winning streak to Hartford (1-9) for the America East opener on Saturday morning (March 23). The opening draw is set for 11 a.m. Free live video will be available by clicking the link below.
 
RELATED LINKS
Video | Live Stats
 
DRAWING ATTENTION
For the second straight week, redshirt freshman Grace Giancola was named the America East Rookie of the Week on Monday. She scored a goal, added two ground balls, and won a career-high 14 draw controls in a 14-10 win at Winthrop. In UVM's two-game Carolina road trip, Giancola logged 23 draws and currently leads the league with 42 this season.
 
HOT START
The Catamounts stand at 5-1 on the year – their best start through six games since the 2014 campaign. With a win on Saturday, UVM can match the 2014 squad for the best seven-game start in recent years. Vermont's three-game winning streak is the first of its kind since 2015.
 
KURAS IN THE RECORD BOOKS
After beating Winthrop, goalie Maddy Kuras moved into a sixth-place tie with Kate McBride (2001-04) on the school's all-time wins list with 15 career victories. The senior is two wins away from tying Meg Hopkins (2012-15) for fifth on the list. She has also climbed to No. 7 on the career saves list with 407 stops.
 
CONNECTICUT HOMECOMING
Giancola will be returning to her home state for the first time in her collegiate career. The Canton, Connecticut native was a state champion and the all-time leading scorer at Canton High School. She was a three-time All-State First Team selection with the Warriors and set the single-season scoring record with 120 goals as a senior, breaking her won mark of 115 goals as a junior.
 
SCOUTING HARTFORD
The Hawks picked up their first win of the season with a 20-2 blowout at Delaware State on Monday after dropping the first nine contests. Hartford is in the midst of its second season as a Division I program. Megan Miller paces the team with 22 points on 15 goals and seven assists. She is coming off a season-high four goals against the Hornets. Debbie Phillips also registered a hat trick at DSU with three goals including a free-position goal. In net, Hartford has split time between three goalies but Emma Privitera has earned the starting nod six times. She has logged 84 saves with a 15.49 goals-against average.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
In the first ever meeting between the two programs last year, Vermont had 10 different players score a goal in a 21-1 rout of Hartford at Virtue Field. The 21-goal output was the highest single-game total for the Green and Gold since scoring 23 goals against UMass Lowell on April 19, 2015. UVM had four players register a hat trick. Jenna Janes racked up five points on four goals and one assist.