Cary, N.C. – Vermont trailed 1-0 with less than ten minutes remaining in regulation, but netted the equalizer late and then outlasted No. 3 Denver 4-3 in penalty kicks to advance to the National Championship for the first time in program history.
The Catamounts will play No. 13 Marshall on Monday night in the National Championship at 8 p.m. on ESPN2. Marshall advanced with a 1-0 victory over top seed Ohio State. This marks the first-ever national championship game appearance in any sport for both the University of Vermont and the America East Conference.
Vermont’s Yaniv Bazini scored in the 84th minute to force OT and then after two scoreless overtime periods the contest went to penalty kicks.
Each team connected on their first two attempts, but Niklas Herceg came up with a diving leg save on Denver’s third attempt. Max Murray followed with a goal and each team made their fourth attempts. The Pioneer’s fifth shot went high, and the Catamounts stormed the field in celebration.
How it Happened:
- Neither team was able to score in the opening half, but the Pioneers did hold a 7-1 shot advantage, forcing Herceg to make one tough save in the opening ten minutes.
- In the second half, Denver’s first great opportunity came in the 56th minute as Ronan Wynne put on a shot on net, which was headed for the upper corner, but Herceg make the diving save.
- The Pioneers finally broke through in the 69th minute as Sam Bassett sent a ball from just inside the corner of the 18 into the far corner of the net.
- Vermont responded with great offensive pressure over the next ten minutes and netted the equalizer in the 84th minute. Nathan Simeon sent a long ball into the box and Bazini beat the defense and took the ball off his shoulder and one-touched it past the goalkeeper to tie it 1-1.
- Both teams had chances in overtime, but the defenses were able to hold off the opposition and force penalty kicks.
- Denver scored on each of its first two penalty attempts, while Bazini and then Zach Barrett matched it.
- Herceg saved the third Pioneer attempt with this leg as he was diving to his right and then Murray came through with a goal down the middle.
- Both teams made their fourth attempt, with Maximillian Kissel making it 4-3 UVM.
- Denver’s final attempt went high, setting off the Catamount victory celebration.
Notes:
Yaniv Bazini extended his scoring streak to five straight NCAA Tournament games and has scored in seven of the team’s last nine contests with nine goals total… Vermont is the first America East program to play for a national championship in league history.
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