CARY, N.C (WCAX) – On Friday at 5 pm, the UVM men’s soccer program will make its College Cup debut as the Catamounts take on the third-seeded Denver Pioneers.
Vermont has won three straight road games in this tournament, marking its furthest-ever run after last weekend’s upset of #2 Pittsburgh. UVM has won more games in the last three NCAA tournaments than any other program in the country with nine, one win higher than Indiana (8).
“For the last couple years we’ve been knocking on the door, we’ve finally broken through it this time. To be able to put ourselves in a position to compete for a national championship is something that’s been in the works for four or five years now,” said graduate defender Zach Barrett. “To be a part of it, I’m super proud of myself and everybody else that’s gotten us to this point, players, coaches, staff, administrators, stuff like that, everybody plays a key role in it. Super happy for everybody to be in this position, to be able to win a national championship hopefully.”
“Being hard working, the most disciplined team that’s willing to do it together always for every minute. You hear those value points from me all the time,” said head coach Rob Dow on what makes this 2024 group stand out. “But it’s Vermont’s time. Catamount nation is with us and we know that, and we’re going to make them proud.”
“We have 20 players that can play and start the game and will be as or better than the starting lineup currently. I can’t tell you who will be in the starting lineup in the next game because everybody is practicing so good and doing their best,” said senior forward Yaniv Bazini. “Even if they give one minute, it’s better than whoever has been on the field and this is the best decision. I think this is the small difference between what we had in the past and what we have now. I think this is a good championship recipe to get far.”
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