The University of Vermont mens' soccer team got their bid for NCAA playoff glory off on the literal Wright foot last night, with star forward Brian Wright scoring a hat trick in the Catamounts' 4-1 win over Rider University at Virtue Field.
Wright touched off the scoring in the 24th minute of play, converting a nice feed from Jon Arnar Barddal, who had intercepted a midfield pass, and Wright connected again with a little over two minutes left in the first half to give UVM all the goals they would need. He also added an assist for an epic four point night in the first NCAA playoff game hosted by the Catamounts since 1989. The Catamounts now head out on the road for a second round match-up against a much tougher opponent in the University of Virginia Sunday afternoon, but they do so with a ton of confidence after an amazing performance by one of their two superstar players. Sunday's game will also mark the first time UVM has made it to the second round of the NCAA's since 2007. The win also was a milestone for 13-year veteran head coach Jesse Cormier, giving him 114 wins over his UVM career, the most victories as a head coach in UVM mens' soccer history.
The UVM mens' hockey team is about to travel as well, to Belfast, Northern Ireland on Sunday to take part in the Friendship Four tournament, but before they do they'll get a shot at the University of Maine Black bears on home ice at Gutterson Field House tonight. UVM goes into the game with a 6-3-1 record.
In the NHL, tough loss for the Boston Bruins, who were hoping to sweep their recent three game road trip but got burned twice in a 1-0 loss to the Wild in Minnesota last night, first on a goal that was called back after video review, and then on an own goal that glanced off the skate of defenseman Adam McQuaid and past Tuukka Rask for the Minneosta game winner with less than a minute to go in regulation. David Backes thought he'd given the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the second period but after the Wild called for review of the goal, the Bruins were found to have been offsides before entering the Minnesota zone. Tuukka Rask was again the best player on the ice for Boston, as he has been all season, stopping 28 shots, and the only one that got by him was not his fault at all. A centering pass from Mikael Granlund never got to its intended target but hit McQuaid's skate, changed direction and slid into the net behind Rask. The Bruins have been on a good stretch of wins lately but need to find more offense, having scored just four goals over their last three games, winning only because of Rask and some good defensive play. They could have used their leading goal scorer David Pastrnak last night, but he missed the game with an undisclosed injury and is listed as day to day.
Thursday Night Football last night the Carolina Panthers eked out a 23-20 win over the New Orleans Saints but it was a costly victory. Defensive standout Luke Kuechly, who had already returned a blocked field goal attempt for an apparent touchdown that was called back on an illegal block, leading instead to a touchdown on an amazing reception in the end zone by Ted Ginn, was carted off the field in the fourth quarter after taking the brunt of a hit by New Orleans running back Tim Hightower. Kuechly was diagnosed with a concussion and did not return. The Panthers did hang on for the win, though, their 3rd in the last 4 games as they improve to 4-6 on the year, same record as the Saints have.
Finally, Major League's baseball's MVP's have been named. Mike Trout of the L.A. Angels win the American League honor, and Kris Bryant of the World Series champion Chicago Cubs garners the N.L. award.
