The University of Vermont field hockey team is trying to build on a historic season in 2024. The Catamounts are looking to repeat as America East Conference Champions, after earning that title for the first time in program history, a history which dates back to the team’s first season in 1979. “It was really incredible,” said Vermont senior midfielder Sophia LeFranc. “Just seeing all the work you put in pay off … it was just an incredible team … I’m excited to do it again this year.” Vermont’s tournament-winning run began when they entered the field as the No. 4 seed with a 2-0 win against the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The Catamounts then vanquished the top seed University of Albany Great Danes in a 1-0 victory in the tournament semifinals. Vermont then completed their tourney run with a 3-2 win over the No. 2 seed University of New Hampshire leading to their first America East Conference title and first NCAA Tournament appearance. Vermont field hockey head coach Kate Pfeifer believes the Catamounts have the talent and pieces to run it back and win another conference title, regardless of what seed her team earns before the America East tournament. “The belief is always there,” Pfeifer said. “We try to really instill that in them too … We have the players, we have the makeup within the team to be able to go up against anybody in the league.” Vermont loses eight seniors and one graduate student from their championship squad in 2024. That includes America East defensive player of the year Sophia Drees, the first Catamounts to receive the award. Drees was a key defensive presence in Vermont’s six shutout wins in the regular season and two shutout victories in the postseason. The Catamounts do return two 2024 America East tournament all-stars who both were tabbed with conference preseason all-star selections this season. One of those all-stars is LeFranc, who earned America East tournament MVP honors a season ago. She finished with 8 goals, 4 assists and 20 pts in 2024 including scoring the game’s only goal in the America East tournament semifinals. The other is sophomore goalkeeper Merle Vaandrager who was also a major piece of the Vermont defense in 2024. The 2024 America East Tournament All-Star had a 9-3-0 overall record, earning 56 saves and allowing 15 goals a season ago. She also picked up two shutout wins in the 2024 America East quarterfinals and semifinals. Both preseason all-stars for Vermont are excited to prove the conference right in picking both of them for those accolades. “It’s a great honor and a big responsibility,” LeFranc said. “To show the conference what we can do. And also, I feel like as a leader, just bringing that high level into the team and leading by example every single day.“It’s definitely a big honor for me,” Vaandrager said. “For me, it’s all about trying to win it again.”Vermont will open their season with a two-game homestand that is part of 12 non-conference games in 2025. Pfeifer believes the Catamounts’ out-of-conference schedule will prepare for when America East play follows. “My philosophy is that we need to challenge ourselves,” Pfeifer said. “At the early part of the season, it can become difficult if you’re not maybe getting those early successes and victories, but these matches are really to test where we can go eventually in the season.”Vermont’s first game is on Friday, Aug. 29, against the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The Catamounts will host this contest at Moulton Winder Field at 3 p.m.

BURLINGTON, Vt. —

The University of Vermont field hockey team is trying to build on a historic season in 2024.

The Catamounts are looking to repeat as America East Conference Champions, after earning that title for the first time in program history, a history which dates back to the team’s first season in 1979.

“It was really incredible,” said Vermont senior midfielder Sophia LeFranc. “Just seeing all the work you put in pay off … it was just an incredible team … I’m excited to do it again this year.”

Vermont’s tournament-winning run began when they entered the field as the No. 4 seed with a 2-0 win against the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The Catamounts then vanquished the top seed University of Albany Great Danes in a 1-0 victory in the tournament semifinals. Vermont then completed their tourney run with a 3-2 win over the No. 2 seed University of New Hampshire leading to their first America East Conference title and first NCAA Tournament appearance.

Vermont field hockey head coach Kate Pfeifer believes the Catamounts have the talent and pieces to run it back and win another conference title, regardless of what seed her team earns before the America East tournament.

“The belief is always there,” Pfeifer said. “We try to really instill that in them too … We have the players, we have the makeup within the team to be able to go up against anybody in the league.”

Vermont loses eight seniors and one graduate student from their championship squad in 2024. That includes America East defensive player of the year Sophia Drees, the first Catamounts to receive the award. Drees was a key defensive presence in Vermont’s six shutout wins in the regular season and two shutout victories in the postseason.

The Catamounts do return two 2024 America East tournament all-stars who both were tabbed with conference preseason all-star selections this season.

One of those all-stars is LeFranc, who earned America East tournament MVP honors a season ago. She finished with 8 goals, 4 assists and 20 pts in 2024 including scoring the game’s only goal in the America East tournament semifinals.

The other is sophomore goalkeeper Merle Vaandrager who was also a major piece of the Vermont defense in 2024. The 2024 America East Tournament All-Star had a 9-3-0 overall record, earning 56 saves and allowing 15 goals a season ago. She also picked up two shutout wins in the 2024 America East quarterfinals and semifinals.

Both preseason all-stars for Vermont are excited to prove the conference right in picking both of them for those accolades.

“It’s a great honor and a big responsibility,” LeFranc said. “To show the conference what we can do. And also, I feel like as a leader, just bringing that high level into the team and leading by example every single day.

“It’s definitely a big honor for me,” Vaandrager said. “For me, it’s all about trying to win it again.”

Vermont will open their season with a two-game homestand that is part of 12 non-conference games in 2025. Pfeifer believes the Catamounts’ out-of-conference schedule will prepare for when America East play follows.

“My philosophy is that we need to challenge ourselves,” Pfeifer said. “At the early part of the season, it can become difficult if you’re not maybe getting those early successes and victories, but these matches are really to test where we can go eventually in the season.”

Vermont’s first game is on Friday, Aug. 29, against the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The Catamounts will host this contest at Moulton Winder Field at 3 p.m.