FINAL SCORE: No. 2 Vermont 12, No. 1 UAlbany 11
ALBANY, N.Y. – Second-seeded Vermont (14-4, 3-3 AE) rallied back from a five-goal deficit to defeat top-seeded UAlbany (8-9, 5-1 AE) 12-11 and secure the first America East Championship in program history on Saturday at John Fallon Field. Grace Giancola was named the championship's Most Outstanding Player, capping off her hat trick with the game-winning goal in the final minutes.
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"I'm really proud of our team for how we battled today – and for the entire year, their belief in themselves and for each other," head coach Sarah Dalton Graddock said. "It's a really special day for our program. This goes beyond the 35 women we have on our roster: our families and the alums that have come before us. We're going to enjoy this for a long time."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• UAlbany roared out to a 5-0 lead in the first 5:37 of the game with Sarah Falk netting three goals in the early run. Kerry Gerety snapped the early run, putting the Catamounts on the board with 4:51 left in the first quarter. The Great Danes would hang on to a 5-1 lead through the opening frame.
• Riley Halloran kicked off the second quarter with a goal 2:14 into the frame, but UAlbany quickly responded 2:07 later. Giancola netted her first of the game with 7:47 remaining in the second quarter and Taylor Mullen tallied a woman-up goal with 1:01 left as the Cats cut the lead to 6-4 before halftime.
• Halloran scored early in the third quarter, bringing Vermont to within one for the first time since the opening minutes of the game. The Catamounts and Great Danes exchanged goals throughout the frame, with UAlbany's lead extending to 9-6 with 1:39 left in the quarter. Ava Vasile scored in the final minute to cut the lead to two goals heading into the final frame.
• The Great Danes struck first in the fourth quarter, but the Catamounts rallied and began to chip away at the lead. Vasile notched a pair of goals and McKenzie Ballard scored the equalizer to tie the game at 10-10 with 8:58 remaining. Allie Maloney would put UAlbany back in front seconds later.
• Giancola knotted the game at 11-11 for the Catamounts with 7:41 remaining regulation. The UVM captain would score the clinching marker with 2:12 left to secure the conference title.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Giancola's three goals came on five shots. The redshirt senior added an assist, scooped up three ground balls, and pulled in one draw control.
• Vasile's three goals moved her single-season total to 62, which is the most in program history.
• Halloran and Mullen rounded out the Catamounts with multiple goals, scoring two apiece.
• On the defensive end, Carolyn Carrera registered a team-high three caused turnovers and five ground balls.
• Sophie McLaughlin recorded nine saves in goal for the Catamounts. The senior made five of her nine stops in the second half.
• With today's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to COTS, the Committee on Temporary Shelter, as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support. Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.

ALL-CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

• Grace Giancola (Most Outstanding Player)
• Carolyn Carrera
• Molly McDonough
• Sophie McLaughlin
• Ava Vasile

UP NEXT
The Catamounts have clinched a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Vermont will learn its opponent by watching the 2022 Division I Women's Lacrosse Selection Show, which will air on Sunday (May 8) at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.