WOMEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
No. 6 Vermont (10-6-1, 3-4-1 AE) will face off with No. 2 Maine (9-1-6, 4-1-3 AE) in Orono, Maine on Thursday evening in the America East semifinals. The match is scheduled to start at 6:05 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
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ALL-CONFERENCE ACCOLADES FOR THE CATS
The Catamounts had several players honored on the America East All-Conference Teams.
Kate Bossert and
Bailey Ayer were each named to the All-Conference First Team. It is just the second time since 1997 that Vermont has had at least two members named to the First Team. Bossert was also named to the All-Academic-Team. Junior defender
Maddy Cronin was named to the All-Conference Second Team.
Bridget Kennedy was named to the All-Rookie Team, marking thirteen straight season's Vermont has had an individual named an All-Rookie member.
UNFAMILIAR PLAYOFF FOE
The Catamounts and Black Bears will face off for only the second time in the America East playoffs. The first time these two teams met was back in 2006, where eventual tournament runner-up Maine, came away with a 2-0 victory in Burlington.
SEMIFINALS HISTORY FOR VERMONT
UVM will be making its 10th semifinal appearance Thursday evening against the Black Bears and seventh under head coach
Kristi Huizenga. UVM is 2-6-1 all-time in the semifinal round and 2-4-1 under Huizenga. UVM's first semifinal win came in 2017 when they defeated Binghamton 1-0 to advance to the program's first-ever title game. In 2021, the Catamounts defeated UAlbany 3-1 before defeating UNH 1-0 to earn the program's first ever America East title and NCAA Tournament berth.
VERMONT'S PATH TO THE SEMIS
No. 6 Vermont earned a gritty 2-1 win in a rain soaked affair over No. 3 New Hampshire on Monday (Oct. 30) night.
Jill Brody and
Lauren DeGroot each scored a goal to help UVM secure the victory and a berth into the semifinal.
Alyssa Oviedo and
Tessa Weiss each recorded an assist for UVM.
The Catamounts also defeated UAlbany 3-0 in the regular season finale to move into sixth place in the league and clinch a spot in the America East playoffs.
BLACK BEAR'S PATH TO THE SEMIS
Maine tied with UNH 0-0 at home in the final regular season game to secure the second seed. With that tie, Maine earned a bye through to the semifinal. Maine's only loss in conference play – and on the season – came in a 2-0 defeat at UMass Lowell on October 12.
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 36th matchup all-time between the Black Bears and the Catamounts with Vermont holding a 17-12-6 advantage. Vermont holds the longest winning streak in the series having taken the first 11 games in the matchup (1990-2000). Maine's longest winning streak in the series came from 2001-2006 where they won seven straight matchups. This will be the second meeting between the two teams in Orono this season. Maine came away with a 3-2 victory on September 17 after scoring twice in the final two minutes of the game.
Lauren DeGroot scored twice in that game for the Catamounts while
Aubrey Bough picked up first career point and assist. Jordane Pinette scored the game-winning goal for the Black Bears in the 88
th minute.
SCOUTING THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRACKET
In the other America East semifinal, No. 4 UMass Lowell will face No. 1 Binghamton on Thursday, November 2. The start time for that game is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The highest remaining seed will host the America East Championship on Sunday, November 5. The time for the championship is yet to be determined.
The winner of the America East Championship will receive the league's automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Division I women's soccer tournament field will be unveiled on Monday, November 6 at 4 p.m. in a broadcast live on NCAA.com.
