Vermont claimed its first national championship in soccer, defeating Marshall 2-1 in overtime on Monday night. Maximilian Kissel scored the winning goal in sudden-death overtime to secure the victory. This marks the ninth championship game decided by overtime or penalty kicks in the 21st century. The Catamounts also became the first America East team to reach a national title game in a team sport.
Vermont’s win follows its successful skiing program, which has won six championships. The Catamounts’ first-year goaltender Niklas Herceg made crucial saves throughout the match, including denying Haruhi Taneda’s close-range attempt in the 78th minute. Marshall goalkeeper Aleksa Janjic also made notable stops, including a huge save on David Ismail’s one-on-one breakaway midway through the first half.
The game was tied at 1-1 after Marcell Papp scored for Vermont in the 81st minute following a give-and-go with David Ismail. However, Kissel broke the tie and won the championship with his goal in overtime. The Catamounts’ victory marks a historic moment for the program, as they become the first team to win a national championship in a team sport.
Source: https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/43015042/vermont-claims-first-national-championship-ot-goal