The Vermont women’s soccer teamopens the 2024 season on Saturday, with a trip to a familiar place for head coach Kristi Huizenga: Her alma mater of Connecticut.
It marks the first time since 2012 that Huizenga, a star player for the Huskies in the early 2000s, will bring the Catamounts to UConn.
Vermont relishes its chance to play an elite program like UConn to kick off a 17-game regular season.
"I definitely think everyone is a bit nervous anticipating it but it's more excitement than anything," senior midfielder Bailey Ayer said. "I am from Connecticut, it's going to be really fun playing back in my home state again."
Last year the Catamounts finished with a 10-7-1 record. Vermont advanced to the America East Conference semifinals for the ninth time in program history before falling to No. 2 seed Maine, 2-1.
UVM women's soccer picked fifth in America East preseason poll
The Catamounts are projected to finish fifth in the America East preseason poll. Maine earned the top spot after earning eight first-place votes while Binghamton notched the other first place vote. The Bearcats are projected to finish second. Here is the entire preseason poll.
- 1. Maine
- 2. Binghamton
- 3. New Hampshire
- 4. UMass Lowell
- 5. Vermont
- 6. NJIT
- T7. UAlbany
- T7 Bryant
- 9. UMBC
Huizenga: Vermont soccer plans on 'Winning the day'
While this year the Catamounts' ultimate goal is to end up on top as America East tournament champions they do have a smaller goal in mind.
"Smaller goals are just winning the day, which is our team motto this year and just making sure we can do everything that we can every single day, every practice and every game moving forward," graduate student forward Jill Brody said.
Huizenga also praised the incoming freshman class and thinks they will be strong additions to the team. Many freshmen played in Tuesday's scrimmage against the University of Montreal, including Morgan Barry at the center back position, Ella Hall and Farrah Yaacoub in central midfield and Della Weir on the forward line.
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Vermont did not win the day on Tuesday falling to the University of Montreal 1-0, but Huizenga saw several positives from the scrimmage.
"We've spent a lot of time on our defensive shape and seeing the new players be able to execute some very difficult things under pressure today in a brand new environment was really encouraging," Huizenga said. "(Also I saw) some of the leadership from the upperclassmen to help organize that during the run of play where there's no timeouts is crucial."
Vermont soccer's Kate Bossert and Bailey Ayer return to lead offense
Vermont is typically known for its goal scoring ability. The Catamounts scored the second-most goals in the conference last season with 34, three behind Maine.
That scoring fire power is back as senior forward Kate Bossert and Ayer highlight the America East Preseason All-Conference team. Both Bossert and Ayer are coming off career seasons. Bossert led the team with 22 points on 10 goals and two assists while Ayer contributed five goals and five assists for 15 points.
Vermont soccer has new goalkeeper for 2024 season
The Catamounts will also have a new goalie in net this season following Erin Murphy's graduation. Murphy started 13 games for Vermont last season, making 61 saves while allowing 18 goals. This season Vermont has four options in goal including veteran Kylee Carafoli, who started five games last fall.
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No one has an edge in the starting goalie competition, according to Huizenga. The competition is currently open and she expects all four goalkeepers to play in the early stages of the season until the Catamounts settle in.
"Kylee Carafoli is our most experienced returning goalkeeper in terms of minutes for us so we're definitely expecting a lot out of her but the rest of the goalkeeping unit is very strong," Huizenga said.
Whatever goalie gets the starting job will have a stellar defender to back her up in senior Maddy Cronin. The Atlanta native is the third Catamount to make the Preseason All-Conference team after earning America East Second Team Honors last season. Cronin started all 18 games for the Catamounts anchoring a back line that conceded 23 goals.
Contact Judith Altneu atjaltneu@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter:@Judith_Altneu.
