BURLINGTON, Vt. – No. 23 Men's Soccer (6-1-2, 1-0-0 AE) concludes the regular season non-conference portion of its 2026 schedule on Tuesday (Sept. 29) at 6 p.m. welcoming UMass (4-4-1) to Virtue Field during UVM's Green Out powered by Casella. Tuesday's matchup with the Minutemen will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Brian McLaughlin on the call.
 
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PROMOTIONS
Green Out powered by Casella: First 500 fans in attendance can receive a free co-branded hat, courtesy of Casella. Casella and Vermont Gas Systems will be tabling along the concourse with fun and interactive activities for the fans. Supercuts will also be onsite, offering free green and gold (washable) hair spray and glitter for fans.
Local Motion: Local Motion will be onsite running free bike valet for fans. Fans who present their bike valet stub to the ticket office will receive a $5 ticket to the game.
 
VERMONT OUTLOOK

• The Catamounts bring a 4-0-1 home record into their non-conference finale against UMass this season, most recently earning a 4-0 shutout win over No. 25 Bryant during Vermont's America East conference opener. Four different Catamounts scored against the Bulldogs, including four players notching their first point of the season. Gabriel Chavez recorded his first goal of the season, Mark Isong notched his first goal as a Catamount in his UVM debut against the Bulldogs, Stepan Fiker registered his first goal as a Catamount, and Aleksei Carnier tallied one assist, his first point as a Catamount.
• Fiker was named America East Defensive Player of the Week after scoring his first goal as a Catamount in Vermont's 4-0 win over Bryant while recording 87 minutes of play in that contest. The sophomore defender has started in all nine matches for UVM this season, helping the Catamounts' backline to six total clean sheets. Niklas Herceg was named America East Goalkeeper of the Week for the third time this season after registering a four save shutout against the Bulldogs, securing his sixth clean sheet of the year. Herceg is now up to 22 total shutouts at Vermont, tied for the third most in program history.
• Vermont holds a 23-10-8 all-time record over UMass. The last two meetings between the Catamounts and the Minutemen have ended in draws, most recently during the 2024 season when Vermont and UMass battled to a 2-2 tie in Burlington.
• UVM ranks atop the America East in numerous statistical categories including Goal Differential (+12), Total Assists (20), Total Goals (18), Total Points (56), Shutout Percentage (0.667), Scoring Offense (2.00), and Points Per Game (6.22).
• Several Catamounts lead the America East in individual statistical categories thus far. Luis Fischer notched his sixth assist of the season against Bryant, leading the conference in Total Assists and Assists Per Game (.667). Islam Houssni is tied for the conference lead in Game-Winning Goals (2). Niklas Herceg is tied for the NCAA lead in shutouts (6) and leads the conference in Goals Against Average (0.67), Save Percentage (.846), and Shutouts per Game (.667).

 
SCOUTING THE MINUTEMEN

• The Minutemen enter their second season as a member of the Summit League. UMass was selected third in the 2026 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Minutemen joined the Summit League in 2025, finishing with a 6-5-6 overall record and 1-3-2 conference record.
• UMass has faced three America East opponents in 2026, earning a 1-1-1 record. The Minutemen opened their campaign at Bryant on Aug. 20, battling to a 2-2 tie. UMass earned its first shutout win of the season at home against UMass Lowell, defeating the Riverhawks 1-0 on Sept. 2. UMass fell to New Hampshire 1-0 on Sept. 12 on home turf. The Minutemen enter Tuesday's match with the Catamounts coming off a 2-1 loss at home against FDU.
• UMass has four different players with multiple goals so far this season. Henry Hutchinson, Shane Velez, Liam Gainey, and Thomas Wadas all have netted two goals thus far on the campaign.
• Hutchinson leads the team in points (6) on two goals and two assists.
• David Street leads UMass in total assists, notching three on the season thus far.

 
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