2008-09 UVM Athletics Highlight Video

A pair of NCAA individual national championships, two teams advancing to the NCAA Tournament and an America East Championship highlighted the 2008-09 University of Vermont athletic season. The Catamounts posted their best winning percentage, both overall and in conference play, in six years and had their highest standing in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Director's Cup for the second straight season.

Vermont also continued to show its commitment to developing student-athletes. UVM student-athletes boasted the highest grade-point average in department history with a 3.2 GPA for the spring semester of 2009. It marked the 14th consecutive semester the UVM athletic department has earned a 3.0 GPA or better. A total of 14 teams earned GPA's over 3.0 in the spring of 2009.

A third straight trip to the semifinals of the America East Championship as well as hosting a league postseason game for the fifth year in a row highlighted the 2008 men's soccer season.

UVM (9-4-7, 4-1-3 America East) finished tied for third in the conference standings and was the fourth seed in the America East Championship. Vermont topped Hartford, 3-1, in a quarterfinal match at Centennial Field before falling to top seed and eventual league champion, Boston University, in the semifinals.

During the regular season the Catamounts recorded impressive wins at Big Ten Champion Michigan State and at home against Dartmouth, a team that reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. UVM was the only team to beat the Spartans on their home field in 2008 and the Catamount's win at No. 22 Central Connecticut gave Vermont a victory over a nationally ranked team for the fifth straight year.

The America East Conference honored six Catamounts for their efforts in 2008. Connor Tobin was named the 2008 Defender of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the all-conference first team. Jordan Crasilneck, who ranked 12th nationally in assists, joined Tobin on the first team and T.J. Gore, Roger Scully and Jake McFadden were second team selections. Freshman Yannick Lewis was named to the America East All-Rookie Team.

Tobin earned the America East Men's Soccer Scholar-Athlete honor for the second straight year. He also garnered the prestigious national honor of a spot on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men's Soccer First Team.

The women’s soccer team closed out the 2008 season with a record of 4-13-1 overall and went 2-5-1 in America East under first-year head coach Kwame Lloyd. The Catamounts made a run in the final four games of the year, going 2-1-1, and scored 10 goals in the final five games after managing just 11 in its first 13 matches. UVM was in the hunt for a playoff spot through the last regular season match.

Freshman Emily Perrin was named to the America East All-Rookie team and senior Erin Pichiotino was selected to the all-academic team. The Catamounts were also honored for its academic excellence, picking up the NSCAA Team Academic Award for the sixth time in seven seasons.

The field hockey team finished the 2008 season with a 9-9 record, which included a pair of victories over nationally ranked teams. UVM has knocked off nationally ranked opponents in each of the last two seasons. The Catamounts also won the Sheraton Catamount Classic for the second time in the three-year history of the event.

Seniors Kim Striegler, the America East Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete, and Jen Angers, along with juniors Megan Maynard and Kristen Heavens were named to the 2008 America East Field Hockey All-Academic Team. The Catamounts earned four of the 11 spots on the team, most by any conference squad.

Senior Maegan Luce finished her Catamount career ranked third all-time in school history in points (83) and assists (23), and tied for fourth in goals scored (30). Both Luce and Striegler were selected to participate in the 2008 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Senior All-Star Game. Striegler was named to the America East All-Conference First Team, while Luce and Angers garnered second team honors.

The men’s and women’s cross country teams each won three team titles during the regular season. Men's MVP Doug Maisey won twice, including the season opening race at the McGill Open Invitational, and was UVM's top runner in all six races he participated. At the New England Cross Country Championships, Maisey was the first America East runner across the finish line. His eighth-place finish was the first top-10 performance at the New England Championships by a Catamount since 1996. He also led Vermont at the America East Championships, finishing 10th overall to earn all-conference honors.

On the women's side, senior Diana Purtz was the MVP for the third time in her career. She helped lead UVM to a fourth place finish at the America East Championships and was 15th overall. Purtz was one of three Catamounts named to the America East All-Academic Team for 2008.

UVM's winter season was full of exciting wins and several impressive individual and team accomplishments. For the first time in school history the men's and women's basketball and men's hockey team all competed in postseason tournaments.

The men's hockey team had a remarkable ride to the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four. The Catamounts posted a 22-12-5 record overall and tied for third place in the Hockey East standings with a 15-8-4 mark. Vermont earned its fourth ever bid to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Frozen Four at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. for only the second time in program history.

Vermont defeated Yale, 4-1, in a NCAA First Round contest and followed that with a 3-2 double-overtime win over Air Force in the NCAA East Regional. UVM was declared the winner in the game against Air Force after a 12-minute review on Dan Lawson's shot from the point during the second overtime. Lawson's shot was ruled a goal after the replay showed the puck went through the net.

The victory in the NCAA East Regional Final propelled the Catamounts into the Frozen Four where they fell to eventual national champion Boston University, 5-4, in the national semifinals. Despite the loss to the Terriers in the Frozen Four, the Catamounts were the only team to beat Boston U. twice in 2008-09. Vermont went a combined 3-2-1 against BU and Miami, the two teams that played in the 2009 NCAA title game.

Vermont finished the 2008-09 season ranked third in the final USA Today/USA Hockey Poll. It was the highest final ranking in program history. The Catamounts also posted a fifth straight winning season for the first time since moving to the Division I level in 1974-75 and their 22 wins were the most since 1996-97, the last time UVM reached the NCAA Tournament prior to this season.

UVM picked up several individual accolades along the way: Dan Lawson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA East Regional; head coach Kevin Sneddon was a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the top NCAA Division I men’s hockey coach in the country, for the second straight year; senior Dean Strong was a finalist for the 2009 Lowe’s Senior Class Award that is given annually to the college hockey student-athlete that displays numerous accomplishments across four pillars: classroom, community, character and competition; and junior Viktor Stalberg was named a finalist for the 2009 Hobey Baker Award that is given annually to the top college hockey player in the country. Stalberg became just the fourth player in Vermont history to be named a finalist for the award along with Kirk McCaskill ‘83 (1982), Eric Perrin ‘97 (1996) and Martin St. Louis ’97 (1995, 1996, 1997). Following the season, Stalberg went on to sign an NHL contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The women's basketball team won its fifth America East Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in school history in 2008-09. The Catamounts finished the season with a record of 21-12 overall. UVM drew the Connecticut Huskies as a first round opponent in the NCAA Tournament. UConn was the overall No. 1 seed in the 64-team field and went on to win the 2009 NCAA National Championship.

In its America East Tournament run, the Catamounts upset No. 2 Hartford, 66-56, and No. 1 Boston University, 74-66, to win the title. Junior guard Courtnay Pilypaitis was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament after averaging 20 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and shooting 91.3 percent from the foul line. Pilypaitis posted back-to-back double-doubles in the tournament, scoring 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds versus the Hawks and followed that with 22 points and 11 rebounds in the championship game versus Boston U. Classmate May Kotsopoulos joined Pilypaitis on the all-tournament team and averaged 17.3 points and shot 55.6 percent from three-point range and 82.6 percent from the foul line. Kotsopoulos scored in double figures each game, with a tournament high of 21 in the victory over Boston U.

Pilypaitis, who was named to the America East All-Conference First Team for the second straight season, and Kotsopoulos, who garnered spots on the all-conference second team and all-defensive team for the second consecutive year, were two of three Catamounts to reach the 1,000-career point milestone this season. Senior Amy Rosenkrantz, who was named to the America East All-Academic Team with Kotsopoulos, also scored her 1,000th career point during the season.

The women’s swimming and diving team had another record-breaking season in 2008-09. The Catamounts posted their best finish in school history at the America East Championship, with three individual champions and one relay championship, as well as breaking nearly every school record. Vermont finished the year 9-4-1 overall and 4-1 against league opponents and was third at the conference championship with a school-record 587 points.

Junior Colleen Clark was named the America East Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet and Vermont took home America East Coaching Staff of the Year honors. The Catamounts broke all but one swimming varsity school record during the four-day meet, as well as seven school freshmen marks and established three new conference record times. Vermont earned a school record four championships (three individual and one relay). Clark was victorious in the 200 free, breaking the UVM varsity mark, and was a NCAA provisional ‘B’ cut qualifier in the win. She also won the 500 free in a conference-record time. Molly MacMillan won the 1,650 freestyle for a second consecutive season with a new UVM record time and also set a new school record during the event in the 1,000. The Cats also won the 800 freestyle relay and broke the conference record.

Vermont finished the season ranked 16th in the final CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major Poll of the season. It was UVM's highest ranking in school history and the Catamounts were the highest ranked team from the America East in the poll and the second-highest rated team in New England.

The women's hockey program took another step forward in its 2008-09 season with several team and individual superlatives. The Catamounts fell just short of their bid for the team's first-ever Division I playoff berth but had several highlights along the way, including a 3-2 victory over No. 6 Boston University at Gutterson Fieldhouse, marking the team's first-ever win over a nationally ranked opponent.

Vermont (7-25-2, 5-15-1 Hockey East) finished its league schedule in seventh place and was one victory away from the sixth and final playoff spot. In its fourth season in Hockey East, UVM set program records for most Hockey East wins (5) and points (11). After winning just seven league games in their first six Division I seasons, the Catamounts have won nine times in the last two years.

Following the season, freshman forward Erin Barley-Maloney was selected to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team becoming the first Catamount to be selected to an all-conference team in Hockey East. Additionally, nine Catamounts were selected to the WHEA All-Academic Team.

The men’s basketball team finished the 2008-09 season with a 24-9 overall mark and went 13-3 in America East play. The Catamounts earned a share of the America East regular season championship and earned their fifth postseason appearance in the last seven years with a trip to the College Basketball Invitational, where the Cats knocked off Green Bay in the first round before falling at Oregon State in the quarterfinals.

Junior Marqus Blakely was named the Kevin Roberson America East Player of the Year and the America East Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. He is the first player in league history to earn defensive player of the year twice. Six of the last eight overall winners of the award have been Catamounts. Blakely led the conference in rebounding, blocks and steals. Senior Mike Trimboli joined Blakely on the all-conference first team. Trimboli has earned a spot on an all-conference team in each of his four seasons. He closed out his career as the school's all-time leader in assists and ranked fourth all-time in scoring with 2,008 points. Senior Colin McIntosh earned his first league honor by being named to the third team, while freshman Garvey Young was selected to the all-rookie squad.

Blakely also picked up Honorable Mention All-American honors from the Associated Press for the second straight season. He is the fourth Catamount in school history to earn honorable mention honors, and joins former standout Taylor Coppenrath '05 as the only Cat to be honored more than once.

The ski team finished fifth at the 2009 NCAA Ski Championships hosted by Bates College. Freshman David Donaldson and senior Juergen Uhl led the way by winning individual national championships. Donaldson won the men’s giant slalom while Uhl skied to a first-place finish in the men’s 10k classic. Donaldson and Uhl were two of eight Catamounts to earn NCAA All-American honors at the NCAA Ski Championships. Donaldson's individual title was the 11th all-time in the giant slalom at the NCAAs for a UVM skier. Uhl's individual title was just the third all-time in the classic for a Vermont skier and the first since Thorodd Bakken '98 won in 1998.

Senior Jilyne McDonald and freshmen Meg Ryley and Franz Bernstein also earned First-Team NCAA All-American honors. Junior Jennie Bender and freshman Caitlin Patterson were both Second-Team NCAA All-Americans as was sophomore Lyndee Janowiak. McDonald and Uhl were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I At-Large Team and Uhl was recognized at the national level, earning ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team honors.

Regionally, Donaldson and Ryley were named the Male and Female Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association Alpine Rookies of the Year, while Bernstein was named the EISA Male Nordic Rookie of the Year. UVM Nordic head coach Paul Stone was named the EISA Nordic Coach of the Year.

The Catamounts also placed 17 skiers on the 2009 NCAA All-Academic Team. Those selected to the all-academic team attained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for the fall term and competed at this year’s Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association Championships.

The men's and women's track and field teams put together strong performances during the indoor and outdoor season for 2008-09. The Catamounts combined to break 17 school records and sent a record number of qualifiers to the New England and ECAC/IC4A Championships.

A trio of Catamounts qualified for the NCAA East Regionals. The 2009 season marked the second straight year both the men's and women's teams had a student-athlete qualify for the meet.

Junior Doug Maisey became the first Catamount to qualify for the NCAA Regionals in the 3,000m Steeplechase with his runner-up finish in the event at the America East Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Teammate Aaron Campbell returned to the NCAA Regionals for the second straight year after becoming the first men's sprinter to qualify for the meet in 2008. Campbell qualified for the 100m when he set a new school and facility record at the Bison Invitational hosted by Bucknell. Campbell posted a time of 10.38, lowering his own mark by three tenths of a second.

Sophomore Leah Grout earned an automatic berth to the meet when she won the high jump at the America East Outdoor Track and Field Championships, marking the fourth straight year a student-athlete on the women's side has qualified for the NCAAs. Grout became the first Catamount to win the high jump at the America East Outdoor Championships in the program's history.

At the conference's indoor championship meet the men’s team finished seventh overall with 38 points, while the women placed fourth with 92 points. The women’s point total was a 46-point increase from 2008 and the team improved from seventh place to fourth this season.

Campbell, who broke the school record twice during the indoor season, entered the league’s indoor championship meet ranked first in the 55m and lived up to the billing by winning the race in a time of 6.46 seconds. Campbell is the 10th Catamount in the program’s history to be crowned an America East Champion and the first men's sprinter to win the 55m race in the history of the UVM program.

The men's and women's outdoor track and field teams each finished sixth at the America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Binghamton University. Both teams improved on both their standings and points from the 2008 championship meet. The women posted 69 points on the weekend, while the men registered 57 points.

At the New England Indoor Track and Field Championships the men’s team finished 14th out of 33 teams and the women’s squad placed 10th out of 32 teams. Junior Aly Millett won the 1,000 meters for her first career New England Championship to lead the women's team. A total of 17 Catamounts earned All-New England citations and broke three school records.

In women's lacrosse, the Catamounts returned for their second straight appearance in the America East Women's Lacrosse Championships in 2009 after not making the America East Women's Lacrosse Championships for five years. Vermont finished the year with a record of 9-8 overall, the team's first winning season since 1994, and tied the school record for most wins in a season (9).

Freshman Allison Pfohl led the Vermont contingent of honorees garnering year-end awards from America East. Pfohl was named the America East Rookie of the Year, becoming the second straight Catamount to win the award, joining teammate Megan MacDonald who was the first-ever UVM player to win the honor last year. Also earning league honors were Kristen Millar, a unanimous selection for both the America East All-Conference First Team and All-Academic Team; Jessa Merrill, America East All-Conference Second Team, her second straight year earning a conference honor; and Olivia Hatfield and Samantha Stern who joined Pfohl on the America East All-Rookie Team.

Pfohl set a new single-season record for most goals by a freshman, finishing her rookie campaign with 33 goals, tying Millar for the team lead in goals, and totaled 38 points.

Millar closed out her remarkable career as the all-time leader in goals, assists, points, ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers at Vermont. She also graduated as the all-time leader in draw controls in NCAA Division I history. Millar also earned IWLCA Regional All-America honors for the fourth straight year and was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team for the second consecutive season.

The men's lacrosse team finished the season 4-10 overall record and 1-4 mark in America East. The Catamounts faced four teams that advanced to the 2009 NCAA Tournament in No. 11 Brown, No. 9 UMBC, No. 2 Notre Dame and Final Four Participant Virginia.

Senior Andrew Kelleher was named the inaugural America East Men’s Lacrosse Fans’ Choice Player of the Year after nearly 3,000 fans participated in the vote on AmericaEast.com. Kelleher ranked 11th in the country in goals per game at 2.50. His 36 goals ranked second among America East players and his 45 points were fourth best. He scored at least one goal in 13 of the final 14 contests on the year. Kelleher also finished second on the team in ground balls with 36 and closed out his career with 65 goals and 85 points in 53 career games.

Kelleher also excelled in the classroom, earning senior scholar-athlete honors from the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The scholar-athlete team acknowledged graduating seniors from their respective schools, who earned over a 3.0 grade point average and excelled on the field.

Freshman Geoff Worley was named to the America East All-Rookie Team. Worley finished second on the team in scoring with 18 goals and 20 assists for 38 points in 14 games. His 20 assists ranked tied for second among America East players this season. Worley, who had 21 ground balls on the season, recorded a multi-point game in 13 of 14 contests and started the year with an 11-game scoring streak.

With a young squad that featured 10 underclassmen on a roster of 14, the softball team finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 8-38 and went 4-17 in America East play.

Freshmen Kellin Haley and Rebecca Heimbigner were both named to the America East All-Rookie Team. The Catamounts were one of four schools to have two representatives on the squad. Haley finished the year second on the team in batting average and third in runs scored (9), hits (29) and doubles (6). She also led the team in stolen bases swiping 10 in 11 attempts on the season. Haley played in all 46 games as a freshman, making 45 starts. Heimbigner was one of only two Catamounts to start all 46 games this past season. She finished tied for the team lead in doubles (8) and runs scored (11), as well as posting the second-most hits on the squad (33). Heimbigner’s 33 hits were the most for a Vermont freshman since 2004.

The baseball team (23-33, 14-10 America East) won nine of its last 10 conference games on its way to finishing tied for third place in the final regular season standings. Vermont earned the fourth seed in the 2009 America East Baseball Championship, marking the fourth appearance in the conference tournament in the last five years. Eventual champion Binghamton knocked UVM out of the tournament.

Sophomore Matt Duffy was named the 2009 America East Baseball Player of the Year to highlight six Catamounts named to the all-conference team. Duffy, Keith Rakus and Justin Albert were named to the America East All-Conference First Team; Mark Micowski and Justin Milo were selected to the second team; and Mike McCarthy was named to the America East All-Rookie Team.

Milo and senior Joe Serafin were selected in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Milo was taken in the 37th round (selection 1125) by the New York Yankees, while Serafin was also selected in the 37th round (selection 1123) by the Chicago White Sox.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR | Complete Release
Women's lacrosse standout Kristen Millar was named the 2009 America East Woman of the Year. The honor recognizes the conference’s senior female student-athlete who has best distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.

Millar is the first Vermont student-athlete to win the conference award since its inception in 2006. She was selected for the honor from a pool of the 11 America East institutional nominations. To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2009 spring season, received her undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2009 term and had a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).

CATS IN THE COMMUNITY
Vermont student-athletes, coaches and staff members spent over 600 hours helping out various organizations and participating in several community events in and around Chittenden County this season. A highlight of UVM's community service efforts was raising over $11,000 for the Vermont Cancer Center during the "Skating Strides for Breast Cancer" and the "Pink Zone" events during the hockey and basketball seasons.

RALLY AWARDS | Rally Awards Recap
The University of Vermont Athletic Department hosted the fifth annual Rally Awards on May 5 at the Flynn Theatre in downtown Burlington. The all-sports year-end event celebrated the accomplishments of the UVM student-athletes. The department handed out seven major awards, honored each team's MVP and senior student-athletes, and showed a multimedia presentation highlighting the 2008-09 season.

Patty Corcoran, an Assistant Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences at UVM, was the recipient of the Athletic Department Award. The award is presented annually to a member of the faculty, staff or community in appreciation of loyal support and continuing devotion to the University of Vermont athletic program.

Corcoran has been a mentor to numerous colleagues and countless students over the years. She has ushered more than a few Catamounts through to graduation and has been a model of support for all to emulate. The UVM Athletic Department is grateful for her unwavering support of its student-athletes and staff.

Sophomore Brittnie Booker and senior Tom Cheney were named winners of the Jeff Stone Memorial Award. Presented for the fifth time in 2009, the award recognizes exceptional contributions by a male and female student-athlete, in any class, in the area of community service and campus leadership. The award is presented in memory of Jeff Stone, an outstanding tennis player at UVM who died tragically in 1984.

The 2009 Rally Awards also marked the fifth presentation of the Underclass Athletic Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding athletic accomplishments by a male and female student-athlete in the freshmen, sophomore and junior classes. Juniors Courtnay Pilypaitis and Viktor Stålberg were named winners of the 2009 Underclass Athletic Achievement Award.

The 53rd annual Semans Trophy was awarded to seniors Jilyne McDonald and Dean Strong. The Semans Trophy is presented to the senior male and female student-athlete who has demonstrated a high level of athletic achievement and earned the respect and regard of his/her fellow students for leadership, loyalty and service to the university.

The Russell O. Sunderland Memorial Trophy was presented for the 70th time at the 2009 Rally Awards. The honor is given to the senior male and female student-athlete who, throughout their college careers, has demonstrated a high level of athletic achievement and exemplified the qualities of character, leadership and persistence in overcoming obstacles. The 2009 winners of the Russell O. Sunderland Memorial Trophy were Sarah DeStefano and Lee Stephane Kouadio.

Seniors Diana Purtz and Connor Tobin were the 2009 recipients of the Wasson Athletic Prize. The award, handed out for the 80th consecutive year, is presented to the senior male and female student-athletes who have demonstrated a high level of athletic achievement and have maintained the highest standard of academic scholarship.

For the 18th consecutive year, the J. Edward Donnelly Award was presented to the senior male and female student-athlete who displayed the greatest accomplishments in individual athletic performance and who significantly contributed to their team's overall performance. The 2009 winners of the J. Edward Donnelly Award were Kristen Millar and Juergen Uhl.

M-V-P
Each team's MVP for the 2008-09 season were also announced at the Rally Awards. They are as follows:
Men's Cross Country - Doug Maisey
Women's Cross Country – Diana Purtz
Field Hockey - Kim Striegler
Men's Soccer - Connor Tobin
Women's Soccer – Kaitlin Francis
Men's Basketball - Marqus Blakely
Women's Basketball – May Kotsopoulos
Men's Ice Hockey –Viktor Stalberg
Women's Ice Hockey – Peggy Wakeham
Women's Swimming and Diving – Colleen Clark
Men's Skiing – David Donaldson
Women's Skiing – Caitlin Patterson
Men's Indoor Track and Field – Aaron Campbell
Women's Indoor Track and Field – Jan Carlson
Men's Outdoor Track and Field – Doug Masiey
Women's Outdoor Track and Field - Jan Carlson
Men's Lacrosse – Andrew Kelleher
Women's Lacrosse - Kristen Millar
Baseball – Matt Duffy
Softball - Did not select an MVP