BURLINGTON – Junior Dana Buckhorn’s first career goal proved to be a game-winner to lift the No. 3-seeded Vermont Catamounts to a 1-0 victory over No. 6 UMBC in the first round of the America East Playoffs on Thursday at Virtue Field. The match marked the first-ever night game a UVM’s home field.
Buckhorn entered the game in the 33rd minute and on her first touches of the match, in the 37th minute, collected the ball in the middle third of the field. She took a few dribbles and fired in a right-footed blast from 23 yards out. The ball sailed over the head of UMBC goalkeeper Jen Nance and into the upper 90. It was Buckhorn’s first career goal.
The Catamounts controlled the action the rest of the way and went on to post their first America East Playoff win in program history.
UVM out shot UMBC 16-2 in the match, but the Retrievers held a 4-2 advantage in corners. Nance was credited with six saves for UMBC, while Ally Ramos did not have to make a stop to earn her eighth win of the season and fifth clean sheet.
Vermont improves to 8-7-2 on the season and moves on to the America East Semifinals. UVM will face No. 2 Albany on Sunday (Nov. 1) at 4 p.m. at Bob Ford Field. UMBC’s season ends with a 5-11-3 record.
Sunday’s semifinal match will be streamed online for free via the America East Digital Network at AmericaEast.tv.
NOTES: Vermont’s eight wins on the season are the most since 2005 … With the win in net, Ally Ramos earned her 17th career win at Vermont, moving her into fifth place among the all-time leaders … Her eight career shutouts also mover her into eighth in the record books … Vermont advances to the America East Semifinals for the second time under head coach Kristi Lefebvre … In 2012, No. 4 UVM hosted No. 5 Albany at Virtue Field in the first round … The teams played to a 1-1 draw, but the Catamounts advanced on penalty kicks (3-2) … Lefebvre is the first coach in program history to earn an America East Playoff victory and the only coach to guide Vermont to three or more America East Playoff appearances.