On December 16th, 2024, the University of Vermont stunned the soccer world when they won the NCAA Division 1 Men's Soccer Championship when Maximillian Kissle scored the golden-goal winner. 229 days later, Virtue Field became home to another soccer champion, as Vermont Green FC (12-0-3) defeated Ballard FC (9-3-3) 2-1 in the USL2 National Championship game in front of an estimated 5000 fans.

Right from the opening whistle these two teams were rearing to go. Green got the first corner of the game two minutes in, but failed to send the crowd into an early frenzy. In the 13th minute, Vermont would get the best opportunity of the game so far, when a free kick was headed on frame by Moussa Ndiaya, however Ballard FC goalkeeper Stockton Short would make a fantastic jumping save on the effort.

Photo: Courtesy USL League Two Social Media

Ballard FC hoped for a penalty in the 15th minute when Richard Aran went down in the penalty area, however the referee signaled for the goal kick instead. The first 20 minutes of the games had shown that both teams were ready for the game, and were going to be attacking. However, in the 22nd minute it looked like we had gotten a breakthrough. Ian Abbey made a run for the Green before driving a cross into the middle of the penalty area where Alex Hall found it for a shot. Short made the save however the ball was still loose in front of goal . After bouncing around for a few moments, the ball found its way to Arnaud Tattevin, however the assistant referees flag went up.

Ballard would get the next big opportunity of the game, after they drew a free kick just outside of the penalty area in the 29th minute, however Luke Hammond’s cross would go out harmlessly for a goal kick. Following that opportunity, neither side would find a lot of real significant scoring opportunities for several minutes.

The visiting side had a massive chance to quiet the home crowd late in the first half, as Joseph Dale, took a shot in the 39th minute. Niklas Herceg made a strong save, however the rebound in the air right in front of goal where a Ballard player put it on frame with an airborne kick, but the shot was cleared off the line by Ndiaya. The Green would then draw the final opportunity of the half when Richard Aran brought down a driving Julien Le Bourdoulous just outside the penalty area. Aran would be given the games first yellow card, however Vermont’s free kick would get blocked.

Vermont Green chose to use one of their seven total substitutions at halftime, bringing on Maximillian Kissel for Tattevin. No changes for Ballard coming out of the break.

A 15 minute break wasn’t going to slow either of these teams down though. The Green drew a penalty just three minutes into the second frame as Ian Abbey was brought down in the penalty area by Abeselom Zemenfes. Le Bordoulous stepped up to face the Ballard goalkeeper, sending Short the wrong way as he tapped the ball in off the post to give Vermont the 1-0 lead in the 50th minute.

Following the opening goal, the pace of the game increased even more. Three yellow cards were issued between the 52nd and 58th minute. In the 60th minute, Vermont would make one substitute and Ballard would make three subs. It wouldn’t take long for the Ballard subs to play a role in the game, as with his first touch of the game Omar Yehya would place a cross to Charlie Kosakoff for the equalizing goal in the 62nd minute.

The scoring chances would quiet down following the equalizer, with both teams trading a few chances, but none that really tested the keepers that much. However, the physicality between these two teams stayed right at the level it had been, if not going even higher. Ballard coach James Riley was given a yellow card for dissent in the 75th minute after a sequence that saw physical plays by both teams that finished with Robeto Apolinar taking down Le Bordoulous around midfield.

As the clock ticked into the final moments of the match, it was looking like extra time was on the horizon. Both teams had tired players and neither side wanted to make a mistake that would cost them a national championship. Vermont drew a corner kick that was taken just as the clock hit 90 and five minutes of stoppage time was posted.

Le Bordoulous took the corner and it initially appeared relatively harmless, with Zengue collecting the ball all the way across the field for the Green. Zengue took one touch and placed a ball right into the middle of the penalty area that found Kissel on the run with no immediate pressure on him. Kissel slotted the ball past Short on the one-touch to give Vermont the 2-1 lead in 90+1.

Immediately following the goal, as the crowd of nearly 5000 was in pandemonium, both teams rushed to make subs for the final few minutes. Play wouldn’t restart until 90+4, leaving both teams knowing that a few extra minutes on top of the presented stoppage time would be coming. Vermont was content to take the ball to the corner, and try as they could Ballard couldn’t seem to get a solid push in the final moments. As the ball went out of bounds at 99+9, the referee blew for full time and the Vermont crowd went crazy.

Following the game, it appears as though there was a red card issued to Riley for Abusive Language. Following the ceremonies, the USL2 Championship Trophy and Vermont Green players made their way into the fans showing that the Vermont soccer story isn’t quite done. With division one players reporting as we speak, UVM will be hoping to continue the championship celebrations on Virtue Field.

by Mathieu Starke, Guest Writer