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University of Vermont Men’s Soccer Team Advances to NCAA Tournament
BURLINGTON, VT – The University of Vermont men’s soccer team is set to return to the NCAA Division I tournament for a third consecutive year, backed by an automatic bid following a thrilling 2-1 victory over Bryant University in the America East Conference championship. The announcement of their selection during Monday’s NCAA tournament show was met with composed celebrations from the Catamounts, who demonstrated confidence in their journey after winning their seventh America East title.
Senior forward Yaniv Bazini expressed relief and confidence about their qualification, stating, "This time, we knew that we were going to get in with no question," highlighting the team’s steady mindset compared to previous seasons.
Vermont’s impressive season includes securing both the America East championship and regular season title for only the second time in the program’s history. The team’s competitive out-of-conference schedule, featuring matchups against fellow NCAA tournament teams like Western Michigan University and the University of Massachusetts, has been instrumental in solidifying their performance during postseason games.
Head coach Rob Dow emphasized the importance of maintaining high performance to pursue the ultimate goal of a national championship. "We tried to challenge ourselves all season long…Now it’s win or go home," he remarked, underscoring the stakes as the Catamounts prepare for their next challenge.
Vermont will host Iona Gales, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions, in their opening playoff match on Thursday, November 21, at Virtue Field with kickoff set for 6 p.m. This matchup marks the third consecutive year Vermont will open College Cup play against a MAAC opponent, having secured victories in both previous encounters.
The Catamounts are eager to build on their successful season and aim for a historic run in the NCAA tournament.
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