DALLAS, Texas – Vermont scored three times in the final 30 minutes of action to stun No. 11 SMU 3-2 on Sunday evening in NCAA Men's Soccer Second Round action, while New Hampshire came up just short against FIU, as the Panthers advanced following two overtimes and 12 rounds of penalty kicks.
UVM advanced beyond the second round for the first time since 1989, when they reached the NCAA Quarterfinals. This marks the fifth time since 2014 an #AEMSOC program has advanced past the second round and the Catamounts are the fourth different program to achieve this feat. They will host UCLA in the Round of 16 on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Bruins defeated No. 6 Clemson 2-1 on Sunday.
In the other #AEMSOC Second Round matchup, UNH and FIU went to overtime tied 1-1 and each scored a goal in overtime to force the contest into penalty kicks. The two teams went back-and-forth, with nine conversions apiece through the first 11 rounds. In the 12th round UNH wasn’t able to covert, while the Panthers came through to advance to the Round of 16. UNH finished the year with a 15-4-1 record.
Updated NCAA Bracket
The Catamounts fell behind 2-0 in the first half. They gave up a goal just 4:41 into the contest and then a second in the 32nd minute. However, UVM cut the lead in to 2-1 in the 65th minute as Max Murray tallied his ninth goal of the season.
In the 80th minute, Murray evened the score with a shot off a header that hit the crossbar and then Garrett Lillie completed the comeback in the 86th minute with a shot through the defense and past the goalie into the corner of the net.
Follow @AmericaEast on Twitter and Instagram to follow Vermont’s journey through the NCAA tournament and use #AEMSOC hashtag to join the conversation.
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