After four quarters tied at zero on Nov. 7, Vermont field hockey found itself in a position all too familiar from their semifinal win three days before.
The Catamounts again pushed the University of New Hampshire Wildcats to double overtime, but couldn’t pull off another win.
On Nov. 4, Vermont faced the University of Maine in the America East semifinals, which was ultimately decided by a shootout. The result sent them to the conference finals against the University of New Hampshire for the second consecutive year.
In their one regular-season meeting, Vermont beat the Wildcats 4-3 in an offensive show, starkly different from their championship contest.
The final drew a crowd of over 400 to Moulton Winder Field, despite the 30-degree weather. The Cats’ unrelenting defense wasn’t enough to stave off New Hampshire’s hunger for revenge after last season’s loss.
With a deflection goal in the second overtime period, the Wildcats were named America East champions.
Despite the championship loss, the season was a success for the Cats. They went 4-1 in the conference, securing the top seed entering the America East playoffs and hosting the conference final — both firsts in UVM history.
Vermont also earned several awards recognizing senior midfielder Sophia Lefranc as Midfielder of the Year, sophomore goalkeeper Merle Vaandrager as Goalkeeper of the Year, and first-year midfielder Veerle Nijhuis as Rookie of the Year.
After the loss, head coach Kate Pfeifer reflected on the team’s leadership and success this season.
“Obviously, hosting this year was a first for the program, and [the seniors] just left so much in their legacy that I think the younger players feel honored to carry forward and live up to,” she said.
Pfeifer praised Lefranc in particular for the level of competition she brings to every practice. Lefranc served as one of Vermont’s two captains this season, alongside senior defender Ainsley Hubbard.
“These freshmen — who had so much opportunity this season playing around Sophia [Lefranc] and Mora [Fernandez de Oliveira] and others in the senior class — they’re going to have that opportunity to now be the impact for the next group that we bring,” she said.
First-year midfielder and forward Gabby Santini was among the rookies who set the tone this season for their years ahead in Vermont, starting in 17 of her 19 games played and claiming two goals.
Nijhuis also made her mark with seven goals in her 19 games started and played. Both first-years scored in the Nov. 4 semifinal shootout to keep the Cats’ season alive for a grab at the championship.
“I’m really proud of the fact that we’re in the mix in the league now, and we’re not going to win every year, we’d love to, but just the fact that we had an opportunity again this year, and hopefully we will again next year,” Pfeifer said.
