BURLINGTON, Vt.  – Alexa Mihale and Alyssa Oviedo scored two goals 2:33 apart in the opening 12 minutes Thursday afternoon as the Catamounts cruised to their seventh straight league win 3-0 over UNH in the regular season finale for both teams. With the win, the Catamounts concluded the regular season with a record of 10-5-1 overall and 7-2-0 in league play.
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"We were very pleased to come away with another win tonight to close out the regular season strong," Head Coach Kristi Huizenga said. "We had some tremendous play from our seniors tonight and they showed great leadership the entire game. We are looking forward to a solid week of training heading into playoffs."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Vermont wasted no time on Thursday evening finding the scoresheet in the ninth minute. On the first corner of the contest Natalie Durieux lofted a ball into the box that Oviedo got to first and headed past UNH's Cat Sheppard for her team-leading sixth goal of the season.
• Just 2:33 later Oviedo combined with Mihale to double the Vermont advantage. Maddy Cronin played a through ball to Oviedo who made a move past a UNH defender into space along the sideline. Oviedo lofted a ball into the box and an unmarked Mihale headed it home for her third goal of the season.
• Mihale almost put the game out of reach in the first half when she was awarded a penalty kick in the 20th minute. Sheppard guessed correctly and made a diving stop on Mihale's hard-low attempt. Sheppard made another stop on a good chance from Oviedo on the rebound.
• Mihale did put the game out of reach in the 49th minute. Bailey Ayer raced into the 18 ahead of a UNH defender and beat Sheppard with her shot but the ball caromed right off of the near post. The rebound came right to Mihale who tapped it home for her first career two-goal game.
• Lydia Kessel made nine saves in net for the Catamounts. She came off in the final three minutes for senior keeper Casey Mcilhenny. They shared the clean sheet on the evening, UVM's fifth in conference play.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Catamounts current seven-game win streak is its longest since 1979 when Vermont opened the season with 13 straight wins.
• The 1996 and 2021 team, both regular season champions, are the only teams in program history to win seven conference games. It is also the Catamounts first 10-win regular season since 1996.
• With the win, this afternoon Lydia Kessel is tied with Paula LaMothe (1983-84) for ninth all-time at Vermont with 13 career wins. Kessel is now tied for fifth all-time in single season wins with nine.
• It is the first time Vermont has scored two or more goals in seven straight games since 2005.
• 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
As the top seed and regular season champions UVM will face the winner of the 4/5 seed  quarterfinal between UAlbany and Binghamton on Sunday, October 31 at 3 p.m. UVM's semifinal matchup is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 4. Tickets for the semifinal are $8 for adults, $5 for youth ages 14 and under and $2 for non-UVM America East students with a valid school ID. UVM students will receive free admission.  BUY NOW