The University of Vermont Men’s soccer team is back on the pitch gearing up for their NCAA Division I men’s soccer championship title defense. The Catamounts returned to their usual opening week training facility at Jay Peak in Vermont trying to replicate a 2024 campaign where they won their first NCAA College Cup in program history. Vermont is coming into 2025 with several expectations to fulfill. They were selected as No. 1 in the America East Conference preseason poll, but also No. 1 in the NCAA Division I men’s soccer preseason rankings. “We’ve got to accept that pressure as a privilege,” Dow said. “We talked about this as a team and going from a winning program to then a dominating program. We know there’s another level and we’re here to practice and train to be to deliver consistently every day.” Offseason workouts and training have helped the Catamount players prepare to be ready for day one of preseason training this summer. That includes five current University of Vermont players who compete in a competitive summer soccer league right at Virtue Field. Niklas Herceg, Rui Aoki, Ryan Zellefrow, Gianluca Armellino and Maximillian Kissel were all a part of Vermont’s USL League Two squad Vermont Green FC. The five Catamounts not only got to compete with and against the USL League Two champions in practices and games, but they also played in six highly competitive playoff games against some of the best soccer players in the nation. “It felt like a College All-Star team,” Kissel said. “You play against the best guys in the country. We had some tough games, close games where we had to come back. I think just mentally, it gives you attributes … to be mentally prepared for what’s coming.” Kissel will join the other veterans on the roster in trying to catch the 14 under classmen of first-years, sophomores and redshirt freshman up to speed during the preseason. Despite plenty of new faces, he and the 18 other upper classmen of juniors, seniors, and graduated students on the team believe the younger players are ready to go. “I’m loving the young guys right now,” said Vermont Men’s Soccer Junior Midfielder and Captain Andrew Millar. “They’re not shy and they’re making friends and then on the field they really want to prove themselves … It’s definitely a big step up but they’re giving their 100% and they’re trying the hardest. And that’s all you can ask from the guys from the first year.” Vermont will open their season on Thursday, Aug. 21 at home against Sacred Heart University. Kick-off at Virtue Field is set for 6 pm.
The University of Vermont Men’s soccer team is back on the pitch gearing up for their NCAA Division I men’s soccer championship title defense.
The Catamounts returned to their usual opening week training facility at Jay Peak in Vermont trying to replicate a 2024 campaign where they won their first NCAA College Cup in program history.
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Vermont is coming into 2025 with several expectations to fulfill. They were selected as No. 1 in the America East Conference preseason poll, but also No. 1 in the NCAA Division I men’s soccer preseason rankings.
“We’ve got to accept that pressure as a privilege,” Dow said. “We talked about this as a team and going from a winning program to then a dominating program. We know there’s another level and we’re here to practice and train to be to deliver consistently every day.”
Offseason workouts and training have helped the Catamount players prepare to be ready for day one of preseason training this summer. That includes five current University of Vermont players who compete in a competitive summer soccer league right at Virtue Field.
Niklas Herceg, Rui Aoki, Ryan Zellefrow, Gianluca Armellino and Maximillian Kissel were all a part of Vermont’s USL League Two squad Vermont Green FC. The five Catamounts not only got to compete with and against the USL League Two champions in practices and games, but they also played in six highly competitive playoff games against some of the best soccer players in the nation.
“It felt like a College All-Star team,” Kissel said. “You play against the best guys in the country. We had some tough games, close games where we had to come back. I think just mentally, it gives you attributes … to be mentally prepared for what’s coming.”
Kissel will join the other veterans on the roster in trying to catch the 14 under classmen of first-years, sophomores and redshirt freshman up to speed during the preseason. Despite plenty of new faces, he and the 18 other upper classmen of juniors, seniors, and graduated students on the team believe the younger players are ready to go.
“I’m loving the young guys right now,” said Vermont Men’s Soccer Junior Midfielder and Captain Andrew Millar. “They’re not shy and they’re making friends and then on the field they really want to prove themselves … It’s definitely a big step up but they’re giving their 100% and they’re trying the hardest. And that’s all you can ask from the guys from the first year.”
Vermont will open their season on Thursday, Aug. 21 at home against Sacred Heart University. Kick-off at Virtue Field is set for 6 pm.
