BURLINGTON, Vt. - The University of Vermont women's lacrosse team will play one of the most challenging schedules in the program's history in 2008. The Catamounts will face four teams that went to the NCAA Tournament last season, including Final Four participant, Duke. Head coach Jen Johnson announced the season schedule today.

"I think we've put together one of the toughest schedules in our program's history for this season. I feel we will enter the spring season well prepared after facing several top opponents during our fall season," stated Johnson. "We are excited for the season to begin as we feel this is the most talented group we have coached and the players have developed great chemistry on and off the field."

The Catamounts open the 2008 campaign on February 26 at Siena and will face Connecticut in the home opener at Moulton Winder Field three days later on February 29. Highlighting the season is a trip to North Carolina over spring break to take on the Blue Devils (March 11) and the Davidson Wildcats on March 13. The trip marks a four game stretch where three of UVM's opponents are NCAA teams from a year ago.

Vermont hosts LeMoyne, the MAAC Champion last season at home on March 16 and travels to Holy Cross, the Patriot League Champion, on March 19. Other non-conference games include a trip to Dartmouth, a 2006 Final Four team, on April 1 and a game versus Stanford at Albany on April 12. The Catamounts will also face Boston College in Chestnut Hill on April 16 then host Oregon on April 18.

The competitive America East slate begins on March 4 in Baltimore, Maryland against UMBC. The Catamounts travel to defending champion Boston University on March 29 and close out the regular season hosting Binghamton on April 20.

Vermont will look to return to the America East Women's Lacrosse Championship for the first time since 2003 this season. The top four teams in the final standings advance to the league's tournament. The semifinals are set for April 25 and the championship game will be played on April 27.

Vermont returns seven starters and adds five newcomers for the 2008 season. Among those returning this season is junior Kristen Millar (Whitby, Ontario), a two-time IWLCA regional All-American, is one of the top players in America East. She garnered all-conference first team honors last season and led the nation in draw controls (5.44pg - 87 total). Senior Emilie Clark (Calais, Vt.), an America East All-Conference Second Team selection last season, also returns at attack for the Catamounts. She doubled her career total in goals and points as a junior and ranked among the league leaders in assists and points. Anchoring the defense will be goalkeeper Meaghan Hanley (Fort Pierce, Fla.). Hanley has been a three-year starter in net for the Catamounts and was the team's co-MVP last season.

The Catamounts closed out the 2007 season with a record of 5-12-0 and finished fifth in the America East standings. It was the highest finish in the league for the Catamounts since 2003 and the best finish under Johnson.

February
Tue 26 at Siena 3:00pm
Fri 29 Connecticut 3:00pm

March
Tue 4 at UMBC * 3:00pm
Tue 11 at Duke 5:00pm
Thu 13 at Davidson 7:00pm
Sun 16 LeMoyne 12:00pm
Wed 19 at Holy Cross 4:00pm
Sat 22 at Stony Brook * 12:00pm
Tue 25 Harvard 3:00pm
Sat 29 at Boston U * 12:00pm

April
Tue 1 at Dartmouth 3:00pm
Sat 5 Albany * 1:00pm
Wed 9 New Hampshire * 3:00pm
Sat 12 vs. Stanford 12:00pm
Wed 16 at Boston College 3:00pm
Fri 18 Oregon 4:00pm
Sun 20 Binghamton * 12:00pm
Fri 25 at America East Semifinals TBA
Sun 27 at America East Championship TBA

2007-12-07