WOMEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
For the 18th time, Vermont (2-0) will host the TD Bank Classic at Virtue Field this weekend. The Catamounts will play North Dakota State (1-0-1) on Friday (Aug. 30) at 7 p.m. then Merrimack (0-1) on Sunday (Sept. 1) at 1 p.m. The tournament field also includes conference rival New Hampshire.
Fans can purchase tickets for the entire tournament at
UVMathletics.com/Tickets or at the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office on gameday. All of the action can be seen live on
AmericaEast.TV.
RELATED LINKS
NDSU: Video | Live Stats | Tickets
Merrimack: Video | Live Stats | Tickets
MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT PRESENTED BY MILTON CAT
Friday's match is Military Appreciation Night presented by Milton Cat. All local law enforcement and military personnel along with their families will receive free admission into the game.
KESSEL'S AMERICA EAST WEEKLY HONOR
The America East Conference unveiled its first batch of weekly awards on Monday and goalie
Lydia Kessel was named Defensive Player of the Week. Kessel recorded eight saves and did not surrender a goal in two Catamount wins last weekend. In last Friday's season opener, the Wading River, New York native stopped five shots in a 1-0 combined clean sheet over Sacred Heart. She capped off the weekend with three saves in 45 minutes of action as the Green and Gold took down Army 2-1 in overtime on Sunday.
GETTING ON THE BOARD EARLY
As the Cats sit at 2-0 for the first time since 2014, the Catamounts have scored two out of their three goals within the first eight minutes of the match.
Natalie Durieux netted her first collegiate goal in the fifth minute on Friday, then
Ella Bankert followed with her first goal of the season in the eighth minute in West Point.
SCOUTING THE TOURNAMENT FIELD
North Dakota State
The Bison come to Burlington with an unblemished 1-0-1 record to begin the year. NDSU took down St. Mary's 1-0 last Friday then earned a 1-1 draw with Montana on Sunday. The pair of contests helped the Bison sweep this week's Summit League awards. Forward Mariah Haberle was named Offensive Player of the Week and netminder Monica Polgar was tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Week. Haberle scored both goals for the Bison. Polgar logged her 16th career clean sheet against the Gaels and tied a career high with nine saves against the Grizzlies. Coming into the season, North Dakota State was picked to finish third in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Merrimack
The Warriors will continue their inaugural Division I season in Burlington after dropping their opener 1-0 at Hartford on Sunday. Merrimack was selected 11th in the Northeast Conference preseason poll. Head coach Gabe Mejail enters his 36th season at the helm at Merrimack. He is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division II women's soccer with 458 career victories. Last year, Izzy McDonnell had an impressive season with a team-best 18 points and seven goals. Taylor Robertson finished second on the team with 14 points and six goals. In net, Erin Fulton earned the start against the Hawks and made five saves.
New Hampshire
The Wildcats were picked just ahead of the Catamounts at No. 5 in the America East preseason rankings. UNH comes to UVM with a 1-1 record after falling to Rhode Island 1-0 last Thursday, then cruised to a 3-0 rout against Sacred Heart on Sunday. Freshman Whitney Wiley was named America East Rookie of the Week on Monday. The newcomer scored two goals in the match against the Pioneers. Kaylan Williams was a key factor in setting up the offensive attack with three assists against SHU. Goalie Cat Sheppard has logged a 0.50 goals-against average through two games and has stopped seven shots.
A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING
Vermont will play North Dakota State and Merrimack for the first time in program history.
