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UVM men's soccer wins NCAA national championship in overtime

Soccer players hold a trophy up and raise their hands in celebration. They wear shirts that say "national champions"
Ben McKeown
/
Associated Press
Vermont celebrates after defeating Marshall in the NCAA College Cup National Championship soccer final in Cary, N.C., Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Maximilian Kissel scored in a sudden-death overtime to help Vermont beat Marshall 2-1 on Monday night for the program's first national championship.

It was the ninth championship game decided by overtime or penalty kicks in the 21st century.

Vermont (16-2-6) became the first squad in school history to win a national championship in a team sport — with the skiing program winning six national championships. The Catamounts were also the first America East team to ever make a national title game in a team sport.

“I’m just so proud to be the coach of this team, to be able to represent our state,” head coach Robert Dow, whose wife delivered their second child on Thanksgiving morning, told ESPN after the game. “We are the toughest team I think anyone is going to be able to face. To rally back again — the Cardiac Cats. We did it.”

Marshall (15-2-7) was looking to earn the program's second national title in as many College Cup appearances since claiming the 2020 national championship.

Kissel was first to a long ball over the defense along the right sideline and he headed it forward as defender Alex Bamford fell to the ground. Marshall goalkeeper Aleksa Janjic came out of his area and Kissel cut to his left before sending a shot into an empty net. Kissel ripped off his jersey and ran to the corner flag to celebrate with his team.

It was Vermont's 16th goal this season in the 83rd minute or later.

“We’re just a family,” Kissel told ESPN after the game. “We’ve spent so much time together. Everyone loves each other, and that’s the secret.”

Kissel's teammate Marcell Papp tied it at 1-all in the 81st after a give-and-go with David Ismail following a Marshall turnover deep in its own area.

Kissel almost gave Vermont a 2-1 lead in the 85th after cutting back on his defender in the box on a breakaway, but Janjic dove to his right to deflect it just wide of the post.

Janjic made a huge save midway through the first half when he denied Ismail on a one-on-one breakaway.

An elated crowd wearing green and gold presses toward soccer players at the edge of a field
Ben McKeown
/
Associated Press
Vermont players celebrate with fans after defeating Marshall in the NCAA College Cup National Championship soccer final in Cary, N.C., Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.

Tarik Pannholzer scored his third goal of the season — all coming in the NCAA Tournament — in the 57th minute to give Marshall the lead. Vermont first-year goaltender Niklas Herceg spoiled a cross by Rai Pinto and Pannholzer was there for the rebound.

Herceg kept it 1-0 after denying Haruhi Taneda's close-range attempt in the 78th minute.

More from Vermont Public: The strange tale of how UVM became the Catamounts

A man stands on a soccer field holding a trophy in one hand and wiping his face with a green and gold scarf with the other hand
Ben McKeown
/
Associated Press
Vermont head coach Rob Dow holds the National Championship trophy after defeating Marshall in the NCAA College Cup National Championship soccer final in Cary, N.C., Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.

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