It was a moment that left Vermonters everywhere jubilant, with hearts racing and tears spilling down joyful faces. For the first time in the history of the University of Vermont’s athletic programs, the UVM men’s soccer team did what was considered the unthinkable, being crowned the 2024 Men’s Soccer Division I National Champions. This was no ordinary victory—it was the culmination of years of grit, hard work, and a mentality that nobody—no one—saw coming. They’re not underdogs. They’re just dogs.

Many may have speculated that this team was written off from the beginning. “Not good enough. Not big enough. Won’t sustain success long enough.” Those were the doubts that swirled around the Catamounts, the noise they had to block out every time they stepped on the field. But this team, led by Head Coach Rob Dow, wasn’t here to prove people wrong. They were here to show that Vermont never backs down.

UVM’s regular season was a statement. Finishing 10-2-6, never surrendering a loss at home from Virtue Field or on any neutral fields, they were relentless—never losing their will to win. Their ability to score 22 goals in the 76th minute or later—17 of them in the 83rd minute or beyond throughout the entirety of the season—was a testament to the never-say-die mentality that defined this team. They weren’t just playing and winning games. They were making history.

After clinching a share of the America East Regular Season Championship, the Catamounts opened the conference tournament with a seat-gripping nail biter against UMBC from Virtue Field, witnessing Yaniv Bazini score the golden goal in the 106th minute for the Catamounts, securing UVM the 2-1 victory over the Retrievers in overtime, punching Vermont its ticket to the conference championship match. Bazini registered both Catamount goals for Vermont in the semifinals of the tournament, building hefty momentum for what was still to come.

An exhilarating America East Championship game took place on a crisp November evening, when Vermont defeated Bryant 2-1 with a go-ahead goal from Maximilian Kissel in the 86th minute of action, securing the program’s second conference championship in the last four years. Head Coach Rob Dow spoke on what it meant heading into the NCAA tournament. “I’ll tell you; this championship game puts us in the echelon of ready. We’re ready for the NCAA Tournament.”

And then came the NCAA Tournament. The Catamounts defied every expectation, tearing through the toughest fields in college soccer. Vermont became the first team in America East history to make it to the NCAA National Championship game, and with every step forward, they proved the doubters wrong. They beat four different seeded opponents—#7 Hofstra, #2 Pittsburgh, #3 Denver, and #13 Marshall—each one more formidable than the last. But the Catamounts kept coming, unrelenting and unstoppable.
 

Don’t call them Cinderellas—call them  National Champs!

The National Championship game itself was nothing short of cinematic. Down by a goal with 9:34 on the clock, just when it seemed like all hope might slip away, the Cardiac Cats did it again. David Ismail connected with Marcell Papp for the equalizing goal, sending the championship game into overtime. Kissel, who demonstrated his clutch abilities all season long, stood tall and delivered the most iconic moment in Vermont men’s soccer history. Scoring an overtime goal 4:53 into extra time, sending the crowd and fans at home into a frenzy, Kissel sealed UVM soccer’s first-ever team National Championship. The goal wasn’t just the culmination of a match—it was the culmination of a season defined by perseverance, heart, and unity.

“First of all, super proud to be this coach for the University of Vermont men’s soccer team,” said Head Coach Rob Dow at the post-game press conference. “This team played phenomenal tonight, put in the center of a lot of pressure, had an amazing season, and I’m just really excited about going home and celebrating with all of our fans that we could hear from afar.”

But it wasn’t just Kissel. Every player stepped up when it mattered. Redshirt senior Yaniv Bazini, who led the team with 30 points (14 goals, 2 assists), scored in every NCAA Tournament game leading up to the final. His equalizer against Denver in the semifinals was a moment of pure magic, reminding everyone that the Catamounts were never out of it.

The heart of the team, though, was its defense. First-year goalkeeper Niklas Herceg was nothing short of heroic. After coming into the season injured, he didn’t just find his form—he became the backbone of Vermont’s defense. He posted six shutouts, three of them in the NCAA Tournament, including a legendary penalty-kick save to go along with a five-save performance against #3 Denver in the semifinals. His .855 save percentage was the best in the NCAA, and in a season where every save mattered, he was the rock the team leaned on.

Defenders Max Murray and Zach Barrett, both graduate students who sit atop the record books for most games played in UVM men’s soccer history over their college careers, held the line in the back, blocking attacks with the ferocity of players who knew this was their time. The team’s collective defense was a wall that never wavered. Together, they became a fortress that other teams simply couldn’t break through.

But what made this team special wasn’t just their talent—it was their belief. There were no underdogs on this team. Just dogs. When people doubted them, they showed up and they fought. The Catamounts didn’t need anyone’s validation. They knew who they were. “They always doubted us,” said Kissel. “We always come out on top. That’s Vermont.”
 

Vermont is here. And Vermont isn’t going anywhere.

From start to finish, from the very first whistle of the season to the final goal in the championship match, this was a team that never gave up and never let the pressure of the moment get to them. The constant roadblocks and the doubt? That fueled their fire.

And let’s talk about their journey—their incredible, almost surreal journey. Traveling nearly 9,000 miles throughout the NCAA Tournament, playing through adversity, overcoming every challenge in their path. This team was unseeded going in, yet they made history. UVM became the first unseeded team to reach the National Championship game since Akron in 2018, and now, they’re the first America East team ever to win a National Championship.

Throughout the NCAA Tournament, this team led all other teams in goals scored, putting up 13 goals in total—a testament to their offensive dynamism. And they did it all with a mentality that was as unstoppable as the men on the field. They were more than just a team—they were a movement. They were the embodiment of what it means to be from Vermont: hardworking, tough, and resilient.

Head Coach Rob Dow summed up what makes Vermont soccer stand above the rest: “It’s our entire community, the state of Vermont that makes this special. As we’ve all identified, we’re a small state, but a state that’s built on family values within our community, working hard, having a resilient culture, and appreciating what you have,” said Dow. “It doesn’t have to be a lot but really appreciating what life is about, and that’s the people around you. I’d like to win a national championship every year, I want to repeat next year, but you know, some years it may not happen, and I know our fans are so loyal through difficult times and this is how we got here, and those are the things we see and feel within Chittenden County and the state of Vermont.”

For Vermont, this championship isn’t just a victory—it’s a legacy. It’s a story of a team that believed in themselves when not a lot did, that defied the odds and walked away as the best in the nation. They’ve set the bar for what’s possible and, in doing so, have inspired generations of athletes to come. The first-ever National Championship for Vermont men’s soccer will be remembered not just as a title, but as a symbol of everything the state and its people stand for—resilience, pride, and the unbreakable spirit of the Green Mountains.

This team didn’t just make history—they made us all believe.