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The Vermont Catamounts are the 27th team in our 2018 schedule preview series and the second team from the America East. The Catamounts were led by first-year head coach Chris Feifs and went 5-8 on the season, but just 1-5 in America East play. They’ll return midfielder Ian MacKay after he missed last season with an injury.
Here’s the entire 2018 schedule:
Vermont’s 2018 Schedule
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
| 2/1 | Vermont | Furman | Earliest college lacrosse game of the season | 13-12 W/OT |
| 2/3 | Vermont | Mercer | 13-12 W/OT | |
| 2/10 | Vermont | Fairfield | First meeting since 2012 (14-7 L) | |
| 2/17 | Vermont | Holy Cross | 14-8 W | |
| 2/24 | Vermont | Quinnipiac | First meeting since 2013 (10-6 L) | |
| 3/3 | Vermont | Jacksonville | In Severn, Maryland; First meeting since 2016 (17-16 L) | |
| 3/8 | Sacred Heart | Vermont | 11-10 W | |
| 3/17 | Vermont | Albany | America East | 17-6 L |
| 3/24 | Binghamton | Vermont | America East | 8-5 L |
| 3/31 | Vermont | Hartford | America East | 15-13 L |
| 4/7 | UMass Lowell | Vermont | America East; Rally Against Cancer Game | 12-11 W |
| 4/14 | Vermont | Stony Brook | America East | 10-9 L |
| 4/21 | Vermont | Virginia | In New Canaan, Connecticut (New Canaan HS); First meeting since 2013 (12-10 L; 0-6 all-time) | |
| 4/27 | UMBC | Vermont | America East | 10-7 L |
Out of the schedule are Providence, Dartmouth, and Harvard. In comes Fairfield, Quinnipiac, Jacksonville, and the addition of another game with Virginia. The Catamounts won’t have an actual home game until March 8 against Sacred Heart, which is their seventh game of the season.
Let’s check out some notable games on this schedule:
Best Nonconference Game: @ Fairfield
Both teams had down years in 2017 and look to bounce back with their lead dogs on offense. The Catamounts have MacKay, while the Stags counter with junior Colin Burke, who some thought would have been the CAA Player of the Year. Both players have high expectations this season.
Best Conference Game: @ Stony Brook
The Seawolves were the fourth seed in the America East Tournament last season and edged the Catamounts by a goal. That can be a big opportunity to leapfrog Stony Brook in preparation for a run for the AE Tournament.
Under The Radar Game: vs. UMass Lowell
Despite having the same 4-12 record as they did in 2016, I saw progress made in the River Hawk program. Inside Lacrosse has UMass Lowell finishing sixth, in front of Hartford and behind Vermont. I could see the River Hawks making big progress in 2018. Maybe not winning the America East, but I think they’ll surprise some people.
Possible Upset: vs. Virginia (in New Canaan, Connecticut)
With the volatility Virginia had last year, I wouldn’t be surprised if Vermont gave the Cavaliers a late-season upset to scare their NCAA Tournament hopes. Lars Tiffany in his second year should be different in a positive way than his first, but how much they will be different is the question.