A Good Day in Vermont
For those of us in Vermont, today is a good day. Even people who don’t care about soccer watched the University of Vermont men’s soccer team triumph over Marshall to win their first-ever NCAA championship last night. Although the team itself has resisted the Cinderella moniker, it is undeniable that our unseeded Catamounts were not expected to bring home the College Cup this season. They were not supposed to beat the seventh-seeded Hofstra, but they did. After flying across the country to play at San Diego, you had to wonder if they would persevere, but they did. They definitely were not supposed to knock off the number two overall Pittsburgh Panthers, but they did. The third-seeded Denver was supposed to end their run in the semifinals, but they could not. Lastly, the thirteenth-seeded Marshall Thundering Herd were ranked above Vermont, but Vermont pulled out one last stitch of magic to come out on top.
How did they do it? The announcers mentioned it over and over again. Their players were willing to do what it took for the team.
Defenseman Max Murray was formerly a forward, but he helped to fill a need in the defensive line earlier this season and played a pivotal role down the stretch on the backline. Some players would resent being pulled off the more “star player” role as the goalscorer, but Murray did what he did for the benefit of the team.
Maximilian Kissel provided the highlight reel finish that will go down in Vermont history, but his story is one of becoming a part of the greater whole. He is a junior and played his first two years at Division II Bridgeport. In 2023, he led all Division II in goals scored with 23 goals in 20 games. He was the man, the hero, and obviously a valuable first-team player. If he had stayed at Bridgeport, he likely would have dominated again and again. When he came to Vermont, he stepped into a reserve role. Some players would be upset, but he took advantage of every opportunity. He appeared in 24 games, averaging 36.04 minutes per game. In those 24 games, which includes the postseason, he scored 11 goals. That is remarkably efficient. Not only that but six of his 11 goals were game-winning goals. According to his profile on the UVM website, he chose to come to Burlington “because of, ‘the great academics and the amazing men's soccer team that is one of the best in the country.’” Some players would not have been willing to take fewer minutes, but he wanted to be part of something special. He provided a spark throughout the season and will now be a legend in Vermont lore.
These are only two examples of doing what it takes to benefit the team that I know of as a relatively casual fan, and I’m sure there were many more that maybe no one beyond the locker room knows about. However, this lesson goes well beyond soccer and really made this Vermont team special. Every player had a job, did his job, did it well, and contributed when it was necessary. You can’t help but love this team, and I am thrilled that they were able to bring the trophy home to the Green Mountain State.