Junior forward Will Zapernick (pictured)
Vermont Falls to American International, 4-0

Box Score - Highlights

BURLINGTON, Vt. - AIC scored two second period goals 1:27 apart on its way to a 4-0 win over Vermont in non-conference action from Gutterson Fieldhouse Saturday night. The first 500 fans attending Saturday's game received replica UVM jerseys courtesy of M&T Bank. With tonight's result UVM concluded the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 5-3-2 record.


COACH'S QUOTE

"Back to work tomorrow as offense continues to elude us," Head Coach Todd Woodcroft said. "We were flat out outworked today for two periods. We have no easy games in our schedule and we must understand that going into 12 remaining games, all versus Hockey East opponents."


HOW IT HAPPENED

- Evan Stella opened the scoring for the Yellow Jackets 8:25 into the second period. Stella one-timed a feed from Jordan Biro from the blue line. Stella's slap shot redirected off a Vermont defender and fluttered up and over Vermont's Gabe Carreire through heavy traffic.

- Blake Bennett doubled the AIC advantage after another fortuitous bounce just 87 seconds later. On a two-on-two rush down low, Bennett centered a pass to his teammate in front, the puck deflected right off a Vermont defender's skate and in to make it 2-0.

- AIC's Casey McDonald scored his first career goal 2:22 into the third period to add an insurance marker for the Yellow Jackets. On the rush McDonald was pushed to the outside by a Vermont defender, but he wrapped the puck around the net and his stuff attempt deflected off Carriere and in.

- With 2:53 to play Bennett iced the contest with an empty-net goal sealing the win for AIC with his 15th goal of the year.


INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

- Vermont is now 5-3-2 in non-conference games this season with its final non-league tilt set for next weekend against AIC.

- The Catamounts blocked 12 shots Saturday night, Andrei Buyalsky and William Lemay were tied for the team lead with two apiece.


UP NEXT

Vermont returns to Hockey East play next weekend, the Catamounts will close the regular season with 12 contests in league play. First up is a trip to Chestnut Hill to face the 19th ranked Boston College Eagles in a two-game set. On Friday night, the teams will battle at 7 p.m. followed by a 5 p.m. contest on Saturday. This will be Coach Woodcroft's first visit to Conte Forum, UVM hasn't played at Boston College since January 4, 2020.