Vermont’s first NCAA tournament game since 2010 didn’t go well at all. The Catamounts took eight penalties and got outshot, 39-25, as they fell to Union, 5-2, Friday afternoon at the East Regional in Bridgeport, Conn.
Union, the ECAC champion and No. 1 seed in the region, opened the scoring 4:15 into the first on a shorthanded goal by Matt Hatch. Vermont captain Chris McCarthy tied the game with 6:42 left in the first, but Max Novak reclaimed the lead for the Dutchmen just 1:09 later on a power-play tally.
Novak struck again on the power play late in the second to make it 3-1, and then Mat Bodie scored midway through the third to make it a three-goal lead. McCarthy cut the lead to 4-2 with his second goal of the game (and 18th of the season) before Hatch sealed the win for Union with an empty-netter.
The Catamounts never really gave themselves a chance in the first two periods, as they took four penalties in each frame and found themselves trailing in shots, 31-12, heading into the third.
Despite the disappointing finish, Vermont fans have to be encouraged by the team’s turnaround this year. After back-to-back NCAA appearances in 2009 and 2010 (including a Frozen Four appearance in ’09), the Catamounts won eight games in 2010-11, six in 2011-12 and 11 in 2012-13 before jumping up to 20 this season.
They will have some retooling to do for next year, as they graduate their leading scorer in McCarthy, as well as mainstays Connor Brickley, H.T. Lenz and Nick Bruneteau. There’s also a chance that junior defenseman Michael Paliotta, a Blackhawks draft pick, could turn pro, although it doesn’t sound like that’s expected.
Freshman sensation Mario Puskarich – the Hockey East Rookie of the Year — will be back, though, as will goalie Brody Hoffman.