UVM Women Take TD Bank Classic

Tie with CCSU Good Enough to Clinch Title

August 31, 2009

BURLINGTON, Vt. - The University of Vermont women’s soccer team took home the 2009 TD Bank Classic title for the first time since 2003 after playing through 110 minutes and to a 2-2 draw against Central Connecticut State Sunday afternoon at Centennial Field.

The Catamounts captured the championship after scoring a tournament-high five goals in the two days.

“This was a great opening weekend for us,” said Vermont head coach Kwame Lloyd. “Our fans saw two good teams play soccer the way it's meant to be played and both competed every minute out there. Central Connecticut is a very good team and I was pleased to see us take an early lead and then continue to persevere when we lost it and work to tie the game up.”

Vermont jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute of action. UVM defender Emily Milbank (Shelburne, Vt.) carried the ball down the left sideline and sent a long service into the penalty box. Junior Gabby Bonfigli (Essex Junction, Vt.) was on the other end of the service and was able to finish it off for her first tally of the regular season.

Central Connecticut answered seven minutes later. In the 35th minute, the Blue Devils earned a throw-in deep in Vermont's end. Forward Clio Tregear headed in Karise Hilt’s (Leominster, Mass.) long throw into the box to even the score at 1-1.

CCSU took a 2-1 advantage on Tregear’s second tally of the afternoon in the 59th minute. Again, using her head, Tregear was able to knock in a ball off a scramble off a corner kick and a touch from teammate Abby Graham.

Vermont came back to even the score in the 84th minute. Freshman Megan Rozumalski sent a free kick to the top of the penalty area where junior Heidi Hassler (Westford, Vt.) was able to one-time the ball into the back of the net. It was Hassler’s first career goal and Rozumalski’s first career point as a Catamount.

Neither team could get the go-ahead goal in the final minutes of regulation. The Blue Devils had the best scoring opportunity in the run of play at the 3:45 mark in the first overtime period. Leah Blayney’s blast from 20 yards out was tipped off the cross bar by UVM keeper Eliza Bradley (Charlotte, Vt.) and Brittany Emin (North Scituate, R.I.) pounced on the rebound and sent a hard low shot toward the net, but Bradley was able to make the diving stop. Despite the extra 20 minutes, neither team was able to net the game-winner and the game concluded in a tie.

Bonfigli was named the 2009 TD Bank Classic Offensive MVP after tallying five points on the weekend, three assists in a 3-2 overtime win over Montreal on Friday and one goal Sunday. Bradley was named the 2009 TD Bank Classic Defensive MVP for the second straight year. She made 15 stops in two games, including 10 against Central Connecticut.

Joining Bonfigli and Bradley on the all-tournament team for Vermont were Hassler and freshman Jess Herbst. Central Connecticut was represented by Blayney, Tregear and Hilt, while Veronique Maranda and Veronique Laverdiere were selected from the University of Montreal and Cara Riley and Samantha Butzke were named from Siena.

ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS: Blink Del.icio.us Digg
Furl Google Simpy Spurl Technorati Y! MyWeb