St. Joseph's Field Hockey Tops Vermont in NCAA Tournament Shootout Win

Amy Noonan scored the decisive shootout attempt on Wednesday afternoon to secure a 4-3 shootout victory for Saint Joseph’s over Vermont.

The Hawks advanced to the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship at Northwestern’s Lakeside Field after a marathon contest that spanned 75 minutes of regulation and overtime. The win marks the sixth NCAA Tournament victory in program history for Saint Joseph’s, according to Saint Joseph’s University.

The match was a defensive struggle that required a shootout to settle after both teams had previously earned their tournament berths via shootouts. While Vermont sought its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, the Hawks relied on a late rally to force the extra period and ultimately clinch the win.

“I think the fact is, we’re in a place as a program where certain aspects of it are starting to run like clockwork,” said Kate Pfeifer, the Vermont field hockey coach, according to Vermont Public.

A late rally forced overtime

Vermont entered the match with a program-record 14 wins, but they struggled to maintain their early momentum. Emily Enden scored for the Catamounts midway through the second quarter, slotting home a return pass from a corner insertion to give Vermont a 1-0 lead, as reported by Saint Joseph’s University.

The University of Vermont field hockey team is set to make its second-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday. The Catamounts will play Philadelphia’s Saint Joseph’s University in the tournament’s opening round.https://t.co/pbv0m4zIHb

— Post by @vermontpublic on X

The Hawks gained momentum in the third quarter, though they lost ground when graduate student Alison Buffington received a yellow card. The penalty forced Saint Joseph’s to play with fewer players for five of the final six minutes of that period, according to The Inquirer.

Despite the disadvantage, the Hawks responded in the fourth quarter. Senior Milou Kluyt scored on a penalty corner, assisted by Monica Piccioli and Buffington, to tie the game at 1-1. The score remained deadlocked through overtime, as Saint Joseph’s goalkeeper Avianna Wagner made two critical saves during the extra frame to prevent Vermont from taking the lead.

Amy Noonan secures victory in Hawks shootout win

The shootout was a back-and-forth affair that tested the composure of both squads. After Wagner stopped Gabby Santini to begin the sequence, Buffington put the Hawks ahead. While Emily Enden and Lily DeWan both converted their attempts, Jaime Lewis leveled the score for Vermont through three rounds.

Team of field hockey players and coaches pose on blue artificial grass — Photo: vermontpublic.org

The tension peaked in the fourth round when Wagner stopped Fiona McMahon’s attempt. Monica Piccioli then converted for the Hawks, and although Consu de Castro tied the shootout for the Catamounts, freshman Amy Noonan completed the victory with her successful attempt.

Statistic	Saint Joseph’s	Vermont
Total Goals	1	1
Shootout Score	4	3
Shots	15	10
Penalty Corners	6	3

Goalkeeping played a massive role in the outcome. While Wagner secured the win for the Hawks with her overtime and shootout performance, Vermont’s Ila Gunner recorded five saves, according to Saint Joseph’s University. Gunner, who was named the 2026 America East Goalkeeper of the Year, had previously seen action in nine contests as a sophomore in 2024.

“If you're playing, getting minutes, if you're not, there's such a big role that everybody plays to bring energy to lift each other up,” Vermont goalkeeper Ila Gunner said.

The road to the national championship

The victory serves as a significant milestone for a Saint Joseph’s roster that features five players from the program’s 2024 national championship run. The Hawks have now won in each of the last three seasons, according to Saint Joseph’s University.

St. Joseph's Field Hockey Tops Vermont in NCAA Tournament Shootout Win — Photo: inquirer.com

The win also sets up a daunting matchup for the Hawks. They are scheduled to face the top-ranked, number-one seed Northwestern on Friday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern in Evanston, Illinois. The Wildcats are the two-time defending national champions and hold an 18-2 record, as noted by The Inquirer.

For Vermont, the loss ends a highly successful season under Pfeifer, who has become the all-time winningest coach in the program’s history with 102 victories.

The Hawks will take on Northwestern on Friday, November 13.