FINAL SCORE: Vermont 1, San Diego State 0
SAN DIEGO – Maximilian Kissel's first goal of the season lifted Vermont (1-1-1) to a 1-0 victory over San Diego State (2-2) on Monday night at SDSU Sports Deck.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"First of all, I want to thank the entire coaching staff for making an eight-day trip possible, and going undefeated," head coach Rob Dow said. "It takes a lot of work to feed these guys travel these guys, and match prep, so great job. As for the game. We've grown a lot in three matches and we're heading the right direction."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamounts were on the attack in the opening half, outshooting the Aztecs 9-2 in the frame.
• Yaniv Bazini and Marcell Papp tested Edgar Vargas (5 saves) in the 35th minute with back-to-back shots in a span of nine seconds. Vargas denied Bazini's initial attempt, with Papp's shot getting blocked by an Aztec.
• Kissel broke the scoreless tie in the 41st minute with his first goal at the Division I level. Yaniv Bazini's cross found the forward rushing toward the goal where he leaped up and placed a header over Vargas. Andrew Millar was credited with a secondary assist on the goal as the Cats would take a 1-0 lead into the half.
• The Aztecs pushed for an equalizer in the second frame with their first big chance coming in the 64th minute. A cross found Nir Drori inside the 18-yard box, but his header missed over the cross bar.
• Reid Fisher's shot in the 79th minute forced Lou Liedtka (1 saves) to make a key stop late in the game.
• San Diego State tallied four shots in the final six minutes in search of the tying goal, but were unable to direct a short on net.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vermont held the edge in shots (13-10), but San Diego State outshot the Cats 8-4 in the second half.
• Kissel's goal was his first at the Division I level. The forward transferred to UVM after leading all of Division II in scoring a season ago.
• Liedtka recorded his first clean sheet as a Catamount.
• With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Children's Trust Foundation as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since its inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $94,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts return to the Green Mountain State for their home opener on Saturday (Sept. 7) against American. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET and will broadcast live on ESPN+. Tickets are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or by visiting the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office on gameday. Saturday's matchup is the Peter Baldwin Memorial Game, presented by Morgan Stanley.
 
For news and updates about the Vermont men's soccer program, follow @UVMmsoccer on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.

New England Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont soccer