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As both the men’s and women’s soccer teams begin the Fall 2012 season, both teams welcome new faces and look to start strong in the new season. 

The America East Preseason Coach’s Poll has the Catamount teams finishing fifth and sixth in the conference respectfully. 

The men looked strong in their first match of the season, scoring on a long throw-in from senior Sean Sweeney to junior Scott Kisling in the 18th minute and providing the long goal in a 1-0 victory over University of Rhode Island. 

The win was also the first match and win at their new home stadium, Virtue Field. 

Kisling played a key role in protecting the lead down a man after Sweeney was sent off in the final minutes of the first half. For his efforts, America East awarded Scott Kisling the first Player of the Week honors. 

In the team’s second match of the season, the Catamounts fell at University of Massachusetts 1-0. 

The team is 1-1-0 as they continue their road trip with a matchup this Friday at Michigan and then on to Oakland University for a contest on Sunday. 

The women’s squad has struggled to start the season losing three of four to fall to 1-3-0. 

In the team’s opener at the new Virtue Field, the team lost the Army 3-1. 

The Black Knights scored three times in the first half, pacing themselves as the Catamounts struggled to produce offense scoring their lone goal in the game’s final minutes. 

Sophomore Bre Pletnick headed in a cross from sophomore Alexandra Dezenzo for her first career goal for UVM. 

The season’s second match saw Pletnick score again along with senior Midori Eckenstein, but two goals less than 30 seconds apart in the second half put the game out of reach as the Catamounts’ fall at University of Connecticut 4-2. 

After Eckenstein tied the score in the 68th minute, Connecticut put in two quick goals all in the 68th minute to produce the final score. 

In their second home match of the season, the women were able to get their first win of the season blanking Central Connecticut 2-0. 

Bre Pletnick looked strong again scoring her third goal in three games. Alexandra Dezenzo netted her first goal of the season to put the team up 2-0 in the 63rd minute. 

The Catamounts split time in goal between first-year Ally Ramos and junior Morgan Nichols in the shutout. 

In the final match before the beginning of the academic year, the Cats lost at Fairfield University 1-0. The loss drops the Catamounts to 1-3-0 on the season. 

The team is back in action this Friday, Aug. 31, when they travel to Connecticut to face Quinnipiac University.