FINAL SCORE: Vermont 1, American 1
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Max Murray's first goal of the season late in the second half earned Vermont (1-1-2) the 1-1 draw against American (0-2-3) on Saturday afternoon from Virtue Field in the Catamounts Peter Baldwin Memorial Game Presented by Morgan Stanley.

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Postgame: Murray
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"A tough turnaround from our challenging west coast trip," said Head Coach Rob Dow. "Credit to the players to the find the energy and rally late in the game to equalize. To win the game we needed to be more relentless in front of goal in the first half."
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Yaniv Bazini and Maximilian Kissel combined for three shots on goal in the first 10 minutes to kick off the match for Vermont, placing two shots low center and one shot low left, giving American goalkeeper Matthew Tibbetts an early workload.
• The Catamounts produced another brilliant opportunity in the 30th minute when Sydney Wathuta perfectly crossed the ball to Kissel in the middle of the box, ricocheting the ball off his right heel on goal, but Tibbett was there to make the diving save and send the ball out of bounds for Vermont's first corner of the match.
• American saw their best look of the first half with just under two minutes remaining when Troy Elgersma was awarded a free kick from just outside the box, ringing off the left post, the score remained knotted 0-0 as both teams headed to halftime. Shots on goal were 6-2 in favor of the Catamounts.
• American's Cooper Nunn struck first in the 56th minute, giving the Eagles their first goal of the season and the second half 1-0 advantage.
• Wathuta created his second prime scoring opportunity in the 58th minute, maneuvering away from his defender towards the middle of the box, he unleashed a shot with his right foot, striking the left post, ultimately getting covered by Tibbett for a goal kick.
• Just when it looked like nothing would get past Tibbett, in the 88th minute, Wathuta sent a cross in the box, where Murray was there to swoop in and head the ball over the Eagles goalkeeper for his first goal of the season, tying the match late, 1-1.
• Time ran out, as both teams had to settle for the 1-1 draw.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Wathuta registered his second assist of the season while recording a career high six shots with two being on target.
• Murray scored the game tying goal for Vermont, his first goal of the season, while playing all 90 minutes total on the field.
• The Catamounts as a team tallied 25 total shots with 11 being on goal, season highs in both categories.
• Bazini recorded four total shots with two being on goal, the third game in a row he's tallied four or more shots in a game.
• Vermont earned nine corners to the Eagle's one.
• Kissel recorded two shots on goal as well.
• Graduate Student Zach Barrett saw all 90 minutes of action, tying a team high. 

UP NEXT
Following the Catamounts draw with American, Vermont hits the road for more non-conference action, gearing up to face Patriot League foe, Lehigh, on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. in Bethlehem, PA. Tuesday's matchup with the Mountain Hawks will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

MEN'S SOCCER BSN NIKE STORE OPEN UNTIL 9/16
University of Vermont Athletics and the University Licensing Department are proud to announce a partnership with Nike and BSN Sports to make sport-specific gear available to our fans at the start of the 2023-24 season! As online stores, access to the sport-specific sites is open 24/7 from today through Monday, Sept. 16. All varsity programs will receive a portion of sales to benefit their specific programs enhancement fund. This provides the unique opportunity for the perfect balance between supporting UVM athletics and purchasing quality athletic apparel. Visit the men's soccer sport-specific store to view and purchase their gear!
 
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