In a stunning upset that will be etched in University of Vermont history, the unseeded Catamounts captured their first-ever NCAA Division I national championship in a team sport on Monday night, CNN reports.
Defeating the No. 13 seeded Marshall Thundering Herd 2-1 in overtime at WakeMed Soccer Park, Vermont completed a remarkable tournament run that saw them overcome two top-four seeds en route to the title.
The game was a nail-biter from start to finish. Marshall took the lead in the 67 minute when senior forward Tarik Pannholzer found the back of the net. However, Vermont, showing the resilience that defined their tournament, refused to yield. Forward Marcell Papp leveled the score in the 81st minute, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Vermont forward Maximilian Kissel delivered the decisive blow. Breaking free on a long ball, Kissel scored the game-winning goal, sparking wild celebrations from the Catamounts and their jubilant fans.
“This is the place that I wanted to be,” Kissel said after the game. “This is the best team in this country. I’m just happy that we could prove it. This is no Cinderella. This is no underdog. It’s will, it’s skill, and…talent.”
Kissel’s sentiment echoed the sentiment of head coach Rob Dow, who lauded his team’s tenacity.
Vermont’s journey to the championship game was nothing short of extraordinary. They defeated No. 2 Pittsburgh 2-0 in the quarterfinals before overcoming No. 3 Denver in a penalty shootout in the semifinals – a game that saw them overcome an early deficit. Their semifinal victory, coupled with Marshall’s 1-0 upset of No. 1 Ohio State, set the stage for a thrilling championship match. The Catamounts become only the third team in the last decade to knock off two top-four seeds in the same tournament.
While Marshall sought their second national title in five years, it was Vermont who ultimately prevailed, etching their names into the annals of NCAA men’s soccer history. The victory marks a historic milestone for the university, which previously celebrated individual national titles in men’s and women’s skiing.
