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Seventeenth-ranked Vermont (6-1-1, 1-0-0 AE) dips back into non-conference play on Tuesday (Sep. 26) when it visits UMass (3-4-2, 0-2-0 A10) in Amherst, Mass. The opening kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET at Rudd Field. The matchup will broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
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SCOUTING THE MINUTEMEN
UMass looks to snap a three-game skid after recently suffering losses to Duquesne (L, 1-0), Holy Cross (L, 1-0), and VCU (L, 1-0). The Minutemen last won on Sept. 9 when they defeated Providence 3-2 on the road. Alex Hughes leads the UMass attack with 14 points on seven goals this season. Nick Zielonka has a team-high six assists. Matt Zambetti has been the starting goalkeeper in all nine games this season, posting a 1.22 goals against average and .750 save percentage.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
UVM and UMass will meet for the 40th time in series history on Tuesday afternoon. The Catamounts own a 23-10-6 mark against the Minutemen, with wins in four of the last five matchups. Vermont took a 3-0 victory in Burlington a season ago behind goals from Alex Nagy, Yaniv Bazini, and Jacob Vitale. UVM defeated UMass 1-0 in its last trip to Amherst back in 2021.
 
CATS IN THE RPI
Vermont was ranked No. 9 nationally in the first edition of the NCAA's RPI Rankings. The Catamounts are the top-ranked America East school, 19 spots ahead of Bryant (28).
 
STRENGTH OF AMERICA EAST
America East was rated as the No. 3 conference in the country by the NCAA's RPI rankings. The league was placed behind only the Pac-12 and ACC. America East is also one of two conferences with five schools ranked in the top 50 of the RPI, alongside the ACC.

1-0 IN LEAGUE PLAY The Catamounts opened up America East play with a victory on Saturday (Sept. 23) at Bryant, defeating the Bulldogs 1-0. Yaniv Bazini scored the lone goal for Vermont in the 60th minute. The redshirt junior's goal was the first scored on Bryant this season, as the Bulldogs had entered the game as one of two teams in the country yet to allow a goal.
 
WEEKLY HONORS
UVM picked up two America East weekly honors on Monday (Sept. 25) after a 2-0 week for the Cats. Yaniv Bazini was named Offensive Player of the Week for the first time this season. The redshirt junior factored into each of Vermont's winning goals, including the clinching tally against Bryant on Sept. 23. Nick Lockermann collected his third Rookie of the Week honor of the season after playing all 180 minutes on a back line that held Siena and Bryant scoreless.
 
UNITED SOCCER COACHES RANKINGS
The Catamounts remain in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll for the 14th-straight period, dating back to September 20, 2022. Vermont is the top-ranked America East school at No. 17, one spot ahead of New Hampshire. UVM holds the top spot in the Northeast Region poll, also conducted by the United Soccer Coaches.
 
PREGAME RALLY AT UCONN (OCT. 3)
Alumni, families, and friends are welcome to join the UVM Alumni Association Hartford Affinity Group for a pregame rally in the Trophy Room bar and restaurant at The Graduate Storrs Hotel. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and will continue at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium for Vermont's matchup with UConn at 7 p.m. Purchase game tickets directly through UConn Athletics. Game tickets are not required for the pregame gathering, but registration for the event is encouraged.
 
New England Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's soccer