MEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
Sixteenth-ranked Vermont (10-2-2, 3-1 AE) returns home for the first time this month on Saturday (Oct. 21) when it hosts UMBC (6-3-3, 2-1-1 AE) on Youth Day, presented by Healthy Living. The opening kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET at Virtue Field. Tickets are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or by visiting the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office on gameday. All kids 12 and younger wearing their favorite jersey will receive free admission to the game. Saturday's conference matchup will broadcast live on ESPN+ with Ryan Zimmerman on the call. International fans can stream the game live on AmericaEast.TV.
 
YOUTH DAY PRESENTED BY HEALTHY LIVING
Join us at 11 a.m. ET for Youth Day activities in the Gardner-Collins Indoor Track. There will be lawn games, a bouncy house, arts & crafts, face painting, and more! At the conclusion of the game, the Vermont men's soccer team will be signing team posters. To access the promotional schedule for all remaining fall games, please click here. Don't miss out on ticket deals, game-day activities, and giveaways!

RELATED LINKS
Purchase Tickets
Watch: ESPN+ | AmericaEast.TV (Int'l)
Live Stats
 
WHAT A WIN CAN DO
A win on Saturday would give Vermont 12 points in the America East standings, and will clinch a berth in the America East Tournament. 

TOP OF AMERICA EAST
Saturday's game will be a matchup between two of the top teams in the America East standings. The Catamounts own the top spot with nine points. UMBC is in a tie for second place with seven points.
 
SCOUTING THE RETRIEVERS
UMBC has posted a 2-1-2 mark in its last five games, but suffered a 4-1 loss at home to New Hampshire last time out. It's two league wins have come on the road, defeating UAlbany (W, 2-1) on Sept. 23, and UMass Lowell (W, 2-1) on Oct. 7. Taylor Calheira leads the Retrievers with 10 goals this season, which ranks No. 10 nationally. Calheira is No. 9 in the nation in goals per game (0.83) and has posted 2.00 shots on goal per game, which ranks No. 6 in the country. Emigdio Tormo Lopez has started in eight of 12 games this season, posting a 1.78 goals against average and .659 save percentage.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Catamounts own an 11-6-1 record in the all-time series and are 7-2-1 in the last 10 matchups. Vermont suffered a 2-1 loss in Baltimore last season, but have won five of the last six meetings in Burlington. UVM took a 2-1 victory over UMBC on a rainy afternoon in 2021. Max Murray scored his first collegiate goal in the win.
 
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Redshirt-junior Yaniv Bazini was named America East Co-Offensive Player of the Week after tallying one goal and one assist in Saturday's 5-0 victory at Binghamton. Bazini currently leads America East in scoring with three goals against league foes. The forward's seven points also leads conference play.
 
CATS JUMP IN RPI
Vermont jumped up seven spots to No. 8 in the NCAA RPI Rankings after its 5-0 win over Binghamton. The Catamounts are the highest-rated America East school, ahead of New Hampshire (No. 15) and Bryant (No. 23). America East is rated as the sixth-toughest league among the 23 NCAA Division I conferences sponsoring men's soccer.
 
DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE
Vermont's defensive numbers are among the best in the country through 14 games. The Catamounts rank No. 3 nationally in goals against average (.500), No. 5 in save percentage (.848), and No. 10 in shutout percentage (.500). Individually, goalkeeper Owen Jack is No. 3 nationally in shutouts (7), No. 4 in goals against average, and No. 8 in save percentage.

MID-SEASON ROOKIE RANKINGS
Two of Vermont's first-years were named to the Top Drawer Soccer Mid-Season Rookie Top 100. Defender Nick Lockermann was ranked as the No. 8 rookie in the country. Forward Sydney Wathuta was ranked No. 96 by the website.
 
New England Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's soccer