BURLINGTON – The Catamounts defeated Sacred Heart 2-1 Thursday night at Virtue Field because of two second half goals including the 88th minute game-winner from Alyssa Oviedo. With the victory Vermont improves to 3-1-0 while the Pioneers fall to 0-3-1 on the season.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)
CatamounTV Highlights
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"I thought our group showed a lot of maturity and poise tonight," said Head Coach Kristi Huizenga. "We were able to move the ball well for most of the game and eventually finish our opportunities. Our goalkeeping unit and defense has been solid so far and [Bossert] and [Oviedo] stepped up big when it mattered."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the 20th minute Sacred Heart struck first on a penalty goal. The Pioneers pushed the ball down the right wing and crossed it into the box where a Vermont defender was called for a handball. Senior Maria Nolan stepped up to the spot for the Pioneers and drilled home a low and hard shot that put Sacred heart up 1-0.
• The Catamounts answered back with a penalty kick of their own in the 58th minute. Kate Bossert was able to beat the defender to the ball before getting taken down inside the box. Bossert stepped up to take the opportunity and tucked the ball into the lower left hand corner just past the diving goalkeeper to even the score at 1-1.
• Over the next 30 minutes the two teams battled back-and-forth with both squads creating a number of chances.
• The Pioneers had their best chance in the 66th minute when they had a corner that bounced out to Nolan at the top of the box. She fired a shot that was blocked by a UVM defender.
• In the 71st minute the Catamounts threatened with a shot from Jen Fernandez as she streaked down the right wing, but her shot went just wide left of the post.
• Finally, in the 88th minute Oviedo broke the stalemate with an unassisted goal. Oviedo received the pass off a deflection just past midfield, made a move to beat the defender one-on-one outside the 18-yard box, and rocketed a shot into the upper right hand corner to give Vermont the lead, 2-1, with two minutes remaining.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Bossert netted her third goal of the season, which leads Vermont, with the penalty in the 58th minute.
• Oviedo scored her second goal of the season and her fifth career game-winning goal.
• Erin Murphy made her second start in net of the season, and earned her second win finishing with nine saves and just one goal allowed.

 
WHO'S NEXT
Following Thursday's matchup with the Pioneers, Vermont will travel to Hamilton, N.Y. on Sunday, September 3 to take on Colgate. The start time for the game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. The matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN+. 
 
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UVM Athletics has partnered with BSN Sports to offer official Vermont women's soccer apparel. Shirts, polos, hoodies, jackets, and hats are available from BSN and Nike so you can show your Catamount pride. Order here