Final Score: Vermont 3, Rider 1
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Yaniv Bazini and Nick Lockermann scored two goals 4:09 apart in the first half as the Vermont Catamounts defeated Rider 3-1 Thursday night in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament at UVM's Virtue Field. With the win, Vermont's eighth in NCAA Tournament history the Catamounts improve to 12-5-2 on the campaign. UVM advances in the NCAA Tournament to face the No. 12 seed UCF on Sunday evening.
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"Congratulations to Rider on a great season," head coach Rob Dow said. "Our team played with courage, intensity and as warriors. We saw some Catamount soccer tonight."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamounts opened the scoring in the 24^th minute with Bazini's ninth goal of the season. From the Vermont end Jake Ashford played a high-arching through ball 40 yards up field to Bazini. At the edge of the box Bazini corralled the pass with a great first touch, evaded a Rider defender and coolly slipped a shot past Rider's Adam Salama to make it 1-0.
• Minutes later Lockermann doubled the Catamounts advantage with a wonder strike. Nick Wathuta switched the field with a pass to Lockermann and from 30 yards out he hit a curving shot that left Salama with no chance. The ball looked bound for the far post and ended up swerving just under the bar in the middle of the net for the America East Rookie of the Year's first collegiate goal.
• In the 81st minute the Broncs cut the Vermont lead in half. Their leading scorer Babacar Diene headed home his 13th goal of the season from just in front of UVM's Owen Jack to make it 2-1 with minutes left in the contest. Zaki Alibou earned the assist on the tally.
• In the 87th minute Bazini put the game to rest for the Catamounts. After a quick move in the box he was taken down by a Rider defender in the box and earned a PK. Bazini did a stutter-step move forcing the keeper to his left before firing home his 10th goal of the year to the right.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vermont is 8-1-0 all-time in the postseason when scoring three or more goals. Their only loss was a 4-3 overtime tilt in the 1975 NCAA Tournament.
• The Catamounts are now 6-1-0 at home in the NCAA Tournament, including a 4-1-0 mark at Virtue Field.
• Tonight's win was Head Coach Rob Dow's fourth NCAA Tournament victory, making him the program's all-time leader.
• The Catamounts are now 11-1-2 when Yaniv Bazini scores in his career. Tonight was the first multi-goal game of his collegiate career.
• With today's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Foodbank as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Vermont Mutual has committed to donating $15,000 to Vermont Foodbank for the 2021 season. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support. Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.

WHO'S NEXT
The Catamounts will travel to Orlando to face the 12-seed UCF in the Second Round of the 2023 NCAA Soccer Tournament. The second round match is scheduled for Sunday, November 19 at 6 p.m. (ET) and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
New England Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's soccer