FINAL SCORE: #2 Vermont 3, Binghamton 0
VESTAL, N.Y. – A first half brace from David Ismail combined with Rui Aoki's first goal as a Catamount and Niklas Herceg's ninth shutout of the season propelled Vermont (12-0-5, 6-0-1 AE) to a 3-0 victory over Binghamton (4-13-0, 0-7-0 AE) on Tuesday evening from the Bearcats Sports Complex. With the win, the Catamounts complete their unbeaten regular season and clinch the 2025 America East Regular Season Championship outright for the first time since 2017, crowning UVM as the No. 1 seed heading into the America East Championship.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Great job in the first half to come out with three goals to put the game in our control and this is what we wanted to do in a championship match," said Head Coach Rob Dow. "Proud of the boys, proud of the whole entire team, a lot of guys out there tonight that made a great impact."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• It didn't take long for the Catamounts to apply pressure, seeing Toby Grant ring a shot off the crossbar just 1:32 into the match, but the ball sailed out of bounds as the Bearcats were awarded a goal kick.
• Vermont pounced on the scoreboard first in the 27th minute when Nick Lockermann placed a corner kick perfectly for Ismail to head in his seventh goal of the season, giving the Catamounts a 1-0 advantage.
• The Catamounts doubled their lead in the 39th minute when Grant and Nico Loebus connected on a pair of passes, setting up Ismail perfectly to rip a shot on goal, beating Jack Root to secure his first brace of the season, earning UVM a 2-0 lead.
• Aoki made it 3-0 with just 15 seconds to go in the opening half, finishing a set piece with his head, orchestrated by Loebus and Omar Robbana, scoring his first goal in the green and gold, delivering Vermont a 3-0 lead entering halftime.
• The Catamounts played lock down defense the entire second half, taming any sort of Bearcat offensive push. Gabriel Chavez and Ismail each had a shot on net in the second frame, but Root was there to make the saves.
• As the final buzzer rang, Vermont walked away with the 3-0 road victory from Vestal.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ismail tallied his first career brace in the first half of action, putting his goal total at eight on the season.
• Ismail also totaled a game-high three shots on goal, tying his career high in that department for the second time this season.
• Aoki scored his first goal as a Catamount on Tuesday against the Bearcats, playing 80 total minutes.
• Loebus recorded two assists against Binghamton, his first career multi-assist match.
• Lockermann notched one assist on Tuesday, his second helper of the season.
• Grant registered one assist against Binghamton, his second assist on the campaign.
• Robbana tallied one assist, also his second of the season.
• Herceg made one save on Tuesday to capture his ninth shutout of the season, leading the America East in that department.
• UVM outshot Binghamton on goal 5-1.
• With today's Win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to the Lund Family Center through the Cat's Win, Community Win's initiative. Vermont Mutual has donated over $5 Million Dollars since launching their Charitable Giving Fund in 2014.

 
UP NEXT
Following the road win over Binghamton during the team's regular season finale, the Catamounts achieved the program's first ever unbeaten regular season, posting a 12-0-5 (6-0-1 AE) record, and bring home the 2025 Regular Season Championship. Next, Vermont will host either #5 UMBC or #4 New Hampshire in the America East Semifinal match scheduled for Wednesday (Nov. 12) with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff time from Virtue Field, the second straight season UVM has hosted the America East Semifinals. All the action will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Brian McLaughlin on the call.
 
For news and updates about the Vermont men's soccer program, follow @UVMmsoccer on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.

East Rise Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont soccer.