FINAL SCORE: Vermont 1, #3 Denver 1 (UVM wins PK's 4-3)
CARY, NC. – The 2024 Vermont men's soccer team created more history Friday night from WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC, defeating the #3 Denver Pioneers in PK's 4-3 to punch a ticket to the College Cup Finals for the first time in program history. Yaniv Bazini's game-tying goal in the 84th minute and Niklas Herceg's massive save in PK's launched the Catamounts to the National Championship Game. Vermont will face the 13-seed Marshall in the title game Monday, December 16 at 8 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

RELATED LINKS
Box Score (.pdf)
CatamounTV: Penalty Kicks | Bazini Goal
Game Highlights
Postgame: Coach Dow, Herceg & Murray
Photo Gallery
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Denver applied significant pressure early in the match, striking the cross bar six minutes in, seeing Sam Bassett cross the ball into the box finding Trevor Wright who used his head to place the ball towards the goal, but he couldn't beat the crossbar as Niklas Herceg gained possession of the loose ball, allowing the Catamounts time to regroup.
• In the 30th minute of play, the Pioneers dialed up a prime scoring opportunity when Ronan Wynne sent a cross to the box from distance, this time finding the head of Oje Ofunrein, who placed his header wide left to keep the match scoreless, 0-0. No goals were scored for the remainder of the half as both teams entered the final frame knotted at zero.
• In between the 60th and 61st minute of action, Herceg displayed textbook goalkeeping, making two crucial saves. The first save was off a corner kick, batting the ball out of harm's way with both hands, but it was the second save in the 61st minute that was jaw dropping. Bassett, using his right foot, took a strike on net that seemed to be a missile towards the top right corner, but incredible athleticism from Herceg allowed him to stretch out while making a diving save to punch the ball out of bounds, keeping the Pioneers off the scoreboard.
• David Ismail created a brilliant scoring chance in the 68th minute, dribbling the ball into open space towards center field and unleashing a shot with his right foot just outside the goalie's box, but his shot was sent slightly wide to the right, keeping the match scoreless, 0-0.
• One minute later, in the 69th minute, Bassett broke through on a second chance opportunity, pinning a lofted shot to the right corner of the net, giving Denver a 1-0 lead in the second half of action. Ian Smith was awarded an assist on the Pioneers goal.
• In the 76th minute, a superb hustle effort from Ryan Zellefrow to get around his defender and into the goalie box allowed for him to set up Marcell Papp in the slot, but Papp leaned a little too far back on his one-touch shot, sending the ball over the net as Denver maintained the 1-0 advantage.
• The Vermont Catamounts tied the match 1-1 in the 84th minute of play thanks to Nathan Simeon connecting with Yaniv Bazini on a cross pass, corralling the ball with his chest, wasting no time to put his right foot on the ball for a shot to the bottom right corner, securing his 30th career goal as UVM knotted the game, 1-1.
• After no goals were scored for the remainder of regulation, the match went to two separate 10-minute overtime periods, where UVM fired off three attempted shots, but neither team was able to find the back of the net as the match was sent to penalty kicks.
• Vermont would go on to defeat Denver on the PK's 4-3, seeing Bazini, Zach Barrett, Max Murray, and Maximilian Kissel all deliver on their attempts while Herceg made one incredible stop during the Pioneer's third attempt, earning the Catamounts a trip to the NCAA College Cup Finals for the first time in program history.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Bazini tallied his 30th career goal vs Denver, securing his 10th career NCAA Tournament goal in 12 career games.
• Bazini has scored six goals in five games during the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
• Siméon registered an assist on the equalizer goal for the Catamounts, his third assist of the season and first point of the NCAA Tournament.
• The Catamounts were the first team in the NCAA Tournament this season to score on Denver.
• Vermont has held opponents scoreless in the first half of five straight games, winning all five.
• Until Sam Bassett's goal in the 69th minute Vermont had not trailed at any point during the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
• Vermont is outscoring opponents 8-2 in the second half of tournament games this year. Over the last three years, the Catamounts are outscoring opponents 17-6 in the second half of NCAA postseason matches.
• Vermont has scored 20 goals in the 76th minute or later and 16 goals in the 83rd minute or later this season.
• Vermont's men's soccer team is the first Vermont team or America East team in any sport to ever appear in a national championship game.
• Tonight was the Catamounts's third PK shootout in NCAA Tournament history and first since 2007.
• National Semifinal games have advanced to PKs 10 times since 2000, in five of those instances the team that advanced went on to win the national championship.
• With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Children's Trust Foundation as part of the Cats Wins, Community Wins Initiative.

For news and updates about the Vermont men's soccer program, follow @UVMmsoccer on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.
EastRise Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont soccer