BURLINGTON, Vt. –
Alyssa Oviedo scored on a penalty kick 6:16 into the second overtime to clinch the Catamounts fifth straight win in America East play 2-1 over UMass Lowell Sunday afternoon on Senior Day presented by the UVM Alumni Association. With the win and a tie between Binghamton and Maine the Catamounts moved into first place in America East.
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
CatamounTV Highlights
Photo Gallery: Senior Day Ceremony | Game
Postgame: Oviedo
COACH'S QUOTE
"Our seniors have given so much to this program and it was a great to win at home today on senior day," Head Coach
Kristi Huizenga said. "UMass Lowell is a very good team and we were able to overcome a deficit which we haven't had to do in a few games so that was big for us to respond. We had an amazing crowd today at Virtue and appreciate all the support from our community and families."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Vermont's best chance of the first half came in the 18th minute. Cricket Basa played a great ball into the box and Oviedo just headed it above the bar.
- Under a minute later the River Hawks struck to take the lead. Emily Nelson played a through ball to Calliste Brookshire in the box. Brookshire was able to tuck the ball just under an on-rushing Lydia Kessel for her third goal of the season.
- Brookshire's tally ended UVM's shutout streak, all with Kessel in the net, at 395 minutes and one second.
- Kessel made an outstanding stop in the 51st minute to keep it a one-goal game early in the second half. Olivia Sandahl took a free kick from 35 yards out that Emily Nelson headed towards the net. Kessel punched the ball just over the post.
- In the 55th minute the Catamounts answered back, from just inside the box Bailey Ayer fired a hard-low shot heading for the far post. UMass Lowell's Lisa Sjögren made a diving stop but couldn't corral the rebound. Alex West fought through the tackle of a River Hawks defender to poke it home and tie the game at one.
- Vermont headed to overtime for the second time this season in league play. Kessel made three saves in the two overtime periods for Vermont.
- In the final minutes of the second overtime Karen Wallace played a ball into Oviedo on the wing. Oviedo faked to the middle then cut right on a UMass Lowell defender, beaten on the play the defender fouled Oviedo and she earned UVM's second PK of conference play.
- After earning the penalty Oviedo stepped up to take it too. She kicked hard and low to her right and Sjögren dove left as her fifth goal of the season delivered UVM's fifth straight win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- After nine meetings, the overall series between the Catamounts and River Hawks is tied up at 3-3-3. Six of the nine games have required at least one overtime period to decide the contest.
- The Catamounts current five-game win streak is its longest since the 2005 campaign. Vermont's last six-game win streak was in 1996, UVM was America East regular season champions that year with an unblemished record of 7-0-0 in league play.
- Vermont is now 6-2-0 this season when Alyssa Oviedo or Cricket Basa score.
- Sunday was also Vermont's annual Military Appreciation Day presented by Milton CAT. Please consider showing your support by donating to the Josh Pallotta Fund by visiting Joshpallottafund.org. Donations directly support veterans in our local community.
- With today's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Foodbank as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Vermont Mutual has committed to donating $15,000 to Vermont Foodbank for the 2021 season. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support. Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.
WHO'S NEXT
Vermont returns to action next Sunday, October 24 at UMBC. Action is slated for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ or ESPN3.
