Vermont

BFA-St. Albans girls hockey returns to glory in emphatic fashion for D-I crown

Published

3 hours ago

March 15, 2026

BFA-St. Albans girls hockey returns to glory in emphatic fashion for D-I crown

No. 1 BFA-St. Albans entered the Division I girls hockey championship game on a 20-game unbeaten streak and had not lost to an in-state team all year long.

The Comets made sure the championship game would not be their first loss to a Vermont team. BFA-St. Albans dominated No. 3 Essex earning a 3-1 win that was a rematch of the 2025 Division I girls hockey championship game at Gutterson Fieldhouse on Sunday, March 15.

BFA captured its first title since 2022 after coming up short in the 2024 and 2025 championship games.

“It’s our depth and the number of kids we have,” Comets coach Luke Cioffi said on how BFA went undefeated against Vermont teams. “We have a commitment to each other. They have played all year long playing for each other. It didn’t matter what combinations we threw out there.”

Freshman Reina Spaulding was the star for the Comets. Spaulding had a hand on all three Comet goals, scoring twice and dishing out an assist. The freshman was in the right spot on both her goals, helping deflect the shots into the net. BFA took the lead at the 11:46 mark in the first period on a power play. Spaulding was positioned on the left side of the net and deflected Marah McGinn’s shot into the net.

“It was a really nice flow between everyone out there,” Spaulding said. “Somehow I found the back of the net.”

BFA-St. Albans (20-1-2) finished the season on an 18-game winning streak and showcased its depth outshooting the Hornets 24-15. The Comets held Essex to just eight total shots during the first two periods.

McGinn also contributed three points on one goal and two assists. The junior’s goal came after the Comets intercepted an Essex pass in the Hornets defensive zone. Spaulding sent a short pass to McGinn who hammered the puck past Hornets goalie Morgan Hughart who finished with 21 saves.

The Comets’ forward line featuring Spaulding, McGinn and Kali Cushing proved to be the difference maker.

“All season long they had a knack for finding each other with great communication,” Cioffi said. “They found a way to find the open man and get to the open ice. As a trio of players they just clicked from day one.”

Dahlia Steele recorded 14 saves in the win for the Comets. BFA swept the regular season series 3-0 including a pair of 1-0 wins and continued its dominance over its rival in the championship.

Essex (14-8-1) avoided a shutout with Lucille Mehaffey scoring a goal one-on-one with 1:55 remaining, but the Hornets struggled to muster much offense throughout the contest.

“We played a good game, but they just played a better game,” Hornets coach Jerry Gernander said. “Sometimes you run into a buzzsaw and I think that’s what happened to us.”

When the final horn sounded the entire Comets bench spilled onto the ice to celebrate their season of dominance and program’s 12th title, the most i the entire state.

“It’s such a huge honor with all the legacy Comets hockey brings to this community it means so much that we can be a part of it and have something to show for it,” McGinn said.

Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.

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Vermont

UMBC men’s basketball team beats Vermont, heads to NCAA tournament

Published

15 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Press Room

UMBC men’s basketball team beats Vermont, heads to NCAA tournament

The UMBC Retrievers men’s basketball team is going to the NCAA tournament.

The Retrievers earned an automatic bid by knocking off the Vermont Catamounts 74-59 in the America East championship game Saturday at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore County.

This will be the third NCAA appearance in the team’s history.

The victory marked UMBC’s third win over Vermont this season, and it capped a 16-2 run through league play.

UMBC entered the title game riding a 10-game winning streak and outscoring opponents by nine points per game on the season.

DJ Armstrong made seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 33 points, leading top-seeded UMBC over No. 2-seeded Vermont.

The Retrievers (24-8) earned their first NCAA bid since 2018, when they famously became the first 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed, upsetting Virginia 74-54.

Three 3-pointers by Armstrong, with the second one resulting in a four-point play, gave UMBC a 64-56 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Armstrong and Josh Odunowo then combined to go 10-for-10 from the free-throw line to finish off the win.

Armstrong was 9-for-11 from the field and 8-for-9 from the foul line. Ace Valentine scored 13 points and was 7-for-7 at the line. UMBC made 22 of 26 free throws.

TJ Long scored 17 points, and TJ Hurley and Gus Yalden each scored 11 for Vermont (22-12). The Catamounts made only four of 10 free throws.

A 3-pointer by Long gave Vermont a 17-12 lead with 9 1/2 minutes left in the first half, and the Catamounts led 23-22 with five minutes remaining. A three-point play by Armstrong put UMBC out front and opened a run in which he scored all eight of UMBC’s points over the final three minutes of the half. The Retrievers led 30-28 at the break.

Vermont’s last lead was 51-48 with seven minutes left in the second half.

The Retrievers finished 15-2 at home this season and were undefeated at home against America East opponents.

NCAA tournament pairings will be announced Sunday.

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Armstrong scores career-high 33 points, UMBC returns to NCAA Tournament after 74-59 win over Vermont

Published

1 day ago

March 14, 2026

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Armstrong scores career-high 33 points, UMBC returns to NCAA Tournament after 74-59 win over Vermont

Updated on: March 14, 2026 / 1:56 PM EDT
/ AP

DJ Armstrong buried seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 33 points, leading top-seeded UMBC to a 74-59 victory over No. 2-seed Vermont in the championship game of the America East Playoffs on Saturday.

The Retrievers (24-8) will play in the NCAA Tournament for the third time and earned their first bid since 2018, when they famously became the first 16-seed to beat a No. 1 seed, upsetting Virginia 74-54.

Three 3-pointers by Armstrong, with the second one resulting in a four-point play, gave UMBC a 64-56 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Armstrong and Josh Odunowo then combined to go 10 for 10 from the free-throw line to finish off the win.

Armstrong made 9 of 11 shots overall and connected on 8 of 9 free throws. Ace Valentine scored 13 points and was 7 for 7 at the line. UMBC made 22 of 26 free throws.

TJ Long scored 17 points, and TJ Hurley and Gus Yalden each scored 11 for Vermont (22-12). The Catamounts made only 4 of 10 free throws.

Vermont’s last lead was 51-48 with seven minutes left in the second half.

The Retrievers finished 15-2 at home this season and went undefeated at home against America East opponents.

NCAA Tournament pairings will be announced on Sunday.

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Vermont

Vermont vs UMBC Prediction, Picks & Odds for Saturday’s America East Championship Game

Published

2 days ago

March 14, 2026

Press Room

Vermont vs UMBC Prediction, Picks & Odds for Saturday’s America East Championship Game

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They are the cream of the American East Conference crop, so it’s only fitting that the top-ranked UMBC Retrievers face the No. 2 Vermont Catamounts for the right to go to the NCAA Tournament.

Their previous two matchups this season have been rockfights, so my Vermont vs. UMBC predictions and college basketball picks for Saturday, March 14 is calling for more defense to keep the score Under the total.

Vermont vs UMBC prediction

Vermont vs UMBC best bet

Vermont vs UMBC best bet: Under 137 (-110)

The Under has gone 7-2-1 in the last 10 head-to-heads, and the beat should go on.

UMBC has ripped off 11 wins in a row and hasn’t lost since a 64-55 L against Vermont on January 29.

The Catamounts have eight wins in their last nine, with the only blemish against the Retrievers in a 75-62 drubbing on Feb 19.

These are the top-scoring defenses in America East: UMBC allows 67.3 points per game, with Vermont at 68.4.

The Retrievers haven’t let an opponent touch 70 points in 13 straight, and the Catamounts just once in the last nine.

Vermont vs UMBC same-game parlay

Yes, UMBC has been cruising, going 10-1-0 ATS in the last 11 games, failing to cover just once in a game against Albany.

But Vermont has owned this head-to-head, taking eight of the last 10 matchups straight up. They’re the last team to beat UMBC, and have the defensive chops to win in a slugfest.

Vermont vs UMBC SGP

Vermont vs UMBC odds

Spread: Vermont +3 | UMBC -3
Moneyline: Vermont +125 | UMBC -167
Over/Under: Over 137 | Under 137

Vermont vs UMBC betting trend to know

Each of Vermont’s last six games have produced a total of 137 or fewer points. Find more college basketball betting trends for Vermont vs. UMBC.

How to watch Vermont vs UMBC

Location Advertisement	Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena, Baltimore, MD
Date	Saturday, March 14, 2026
Tip-off	11:00 a.m. ET Advertisement
TV	ESPN2

Vermont vs UMBC key injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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