Vermont Battles No. 13 Yale to Penalty Shootout in Burlington
The University of Vermont field hockey team pushed a ranked opponent to the absolute limit on Moulton Winder Field before falling 5-4 in a penalty shootout on Sunday afternoon. After regulation and overtime ended in a 1-1 tie, No. 13 Yale University secured the match-clinching advantage when Hettie Whittington buried the fifth penalty attempt.
Vermont head coach Kate Pfeifer pointed to the squad’s defensive resilience against a fast-paced Ivy League opponent. The Catamounts dropped to a 10-4 overall record and 1-2 in America East play, while Yale improved to 10-2 overall and 3-2 in Ivy League competition. Yale controlled the penalty corner battle with a 12-3 advantage, but Vermont goalkeeper Ila Gunner anchored the backline with seven crucial saves to keep the match deadlocked.
Isi McMahon Strikes to Answer Bulldog Opening Goal
Yale struck first in the 13th minute of the opening quarter when Chiara Picciafuoco deflected Hettie Whittington’s initial shot off a penalty corner. Vermont responded in the 26th minute when Anyia Woods fired a pass into the shooting circle, setting up a sharp reverse-stick backhand goal by Isi McMahon that found the back of the cage. The strike marked McMahon’s fifth goal of the season and brought her season point total to 14. Both defenses held firm through the third and fourth quarters, with Gunner turning away key opportunities, including a breakaway shot by Fiona McMahon in the 51st minute and a close-range bid by Picciafuoco off an overtime penalty corner in the 69th minute.
🚨 YALE GOAL! Hettie Whittington for the win in the shootout! Final score Yale 2, Vermont 1. #ThisIsYale pic.twitter.com/Bu7pFSYaLe
Shootout Drama Ends in 5-4 Decision for Yale
The match ultimately went to a penalty shootout to decide the winner. Yale opened the scoring sequence with a goal from Kaitlin Chang, which Gabby Santini immediately answered for Vermont by slipping a shot through the pads of Yale goalkeeper Amelie Schwarzkopf. After Victoria Collee scored for the Bulldogs and a Vermont attempt missed, Whittington extended Yale’s lead to 3-1. Vermont fought back as Jaime Lewis executed a full spin to lift a shot into the top of the cage, and Emily Enden collected her own rebound to level the shootout at 3-3. Emma Ramsey restored the Bulldogs’ edge before Consu de Castro tied it up again for the Catamounts. After Gunner denied Chang and Lewis sent her second attempt wide, Whittington sealed the 5-4 victory by faking a backhand and switching to her forehand to find the cage.
Siena Stanley Wins 5K Race at Fall Foliage Invitational
Away from the field hockey turf, local cross-country runners posted standout performances at the Fall Foliage Invitational in St. Albans, Vermont. Siena Stanley, a Bristol native and Mt. Abraham Union High School alumna, took first place in the women’s 5K race with a winning time of 17:46.4. Lydia Donahue, a Hinesburg native and Champlain Valley Union High School alumna, finished fifth for the Catamounts with an 18:36.4 mark. In the men’s 8K race, Sacred Heart University dominated the top tier with three of the top four finishes, led by Michael Mason at 25:33.7. Daniel Brennan, a St. Johnsbury native, led Vermont’s men’s squad by taking fifth place with a time of 26:27.3.
Senior Day Match Against Bryant Approaches
The Vermont field hockey team will return to conference play by honoring eight seniors during a pre-game ceremony on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. The Catamounts host Bryant University at 3 p.m. on Moulton Winder Field in an America East conference matchup that will be streamed live on AmericaEast.TV.
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