2024 - Vermont’s First NCAA Men’s Soccer Title

The Vermont Catamounts made history in 2024, completing a stunning road to the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship with their first-ever national title. Entering the tournament as an unseeded contender, they knocked off higher-ranked teams — including a dramatic penalty shootout win over Denver in the semifinals — to reach the Men’s College Cup final. In the championship match at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, the Catamounts rallied from behind to beat Marshall 2–1 in overtime, capped by a golden goal from Maximilian Kissel that sealed the title. Head coach Rob Dow led the team to its first NCAA championship, and Kissel, alongside defender Niklas Herceg, earned top honors for their standout performances throughout the tournament, etching a memorable chapter in Vermont soccer history.