BURLINGTON – The Vermont Green FC semiprofessional soccer team claimed the USL2 National Championship over the weekend in just their fourth year of existence as a team.
Recent University of Vermont Catamount hero Maximillian Kissel’s volley in stoppage time powered Green FC to a 2-1 win over Seattle’s Ballard FC to win the title on Saturday in front of a standing room only crowd of over 5,000 at Virtue Stadium. Kissel also scored the game winner for the Catamounts last December as they stunned Marshall to win the Division I National Championship. The German striker is one of several Catamount footballers this summer to help Green FC cap off an undefeated 16-0-3 season with a National Championship, including reining NCAA Tournament Defensive Most Outstanding Player Niklas Herceg, who has been a brick wall in both title runs for Vermont. Herceg along with USL2 Defender of the Year Moussa Ndiaye powered Green FC to 10 shutout wins this season, allowing just 13 goals in 19 matches.
UVM is ranked No. 1 in the National Division I Preseason Poll and will officially begin their title defense at home against Sacred Heart on August 21. The match can be streamed live on ESPN Plus.
