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Men’s Soccer 2025

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13K views 179 replies 27 participants last post by  ball_of_rubber  
#1 ·
U
#11 ·
What a terrific game. I was in the stands for the semis, but was unable to snag a ticket for tonight’s final, so it was “the hill” (behind the goal near Gutterson) for me and my friends. And that was packed.

I hope they’ll put in a speaker for the hill — we couldn’t hear much of what the announcer was saying. And since we had no way of knowing how much extra time would be added on, the last 7 minutes were very long ones.

And another thank-you to Maxi Kissel (one of 4 UVM players (Niklas Herceg, Nathan Siméon, Ryan Zellefrow)). And to all of them!
 
C
#12 ·
I wouldn't count on Virtue Field expansion unless the Green are footing the bill to erect some temporary structures.

As for packed UVM games - they always get good crowds but, and I'm sure they'll get the obvious national title bump, but no, they won't be having 2,000+ people packed on the hill or over on the track side for every game. A few sellouts in the 2,500-capacity stands and maybe a few dozen on the hill? Sure. Especially the home opener since SportsCenter is going to be there. I think it's important to distinguish how completely different the environments are from the Green and a typical UVM sporting event, and that last night's game and the semi-final were also way more outsized than the typical Green game during the regular season. UVM by design is much more sanitized environment.
 
#13 ·
catpower said:
I wouldn't count on Virtue Field expansion unless the Green are footing the bill to erect some temporary structures.

As for packed UVM games - they always get good crowds but, and I'm sure they'll get the obvious national title bump, but no, they won't be having 2,000+ people packed on the hill or over on the track side for every game. A few sellouts in the 2,500-capacity stands and maybe a few dozen on the hill? Sure. Especially the home opener since SportsCenter is going to be there. I think it's important to distinguish how completely different the environments are from the Green and a typical UVM sporting event, and that last night's game and the semi-final were also way more outsized than the typical Green game during the regular season. UVM by design is much more sanitized environment.
Click to expand...
They were selling beer (and sold out in the 'ship). I assume that they don't sell beer at UVM games??? Is this the "sanitized" environment you mean?
 
C
#18 ·
www.uvm.edu

Construction Notice: Athletics Support Building | Facilities Management | The University of Vermont

www.uvm.edu www.uvm.edu

They are adding bathrooms, a ticket booth, a concession area and team rooms finally, which were a long part of the overall Virtue Field project. It'll be done for the 2026 soccer seasons if there are no delays I'm skeptical that will lead to a decision to sell beer just for UVM soccer, because it means you've got to do it for every sport, and I think everyone here can agree that the concession stands and their flow of foot traffic in Gutterson and Patrick is awful, and adding beer sales to the mix would make it 100x worse. The new facilities were going to be built to try and make what already isn't convenient to navigate a lot better, which probably would have opened the avenue for alcohol sales, but alas that's dead unless the $40 million restart check comes through.

It's funny to mention the Portland team, because now that the Green have been a success, especially post-championship, the chatter about professionalizing the team and moving into USL 1 is going around, even if it's just people with wishful thinking. I do believe that the current ownership group would like to achieve professional status one day, but they're happy with what they've built too. Professionalization requires a much, much higher level of investment not only in stadium (5k capacity is the minimum requirement, very likely meaning they'd have to build their own...I think owners also have to demonstrate assets amounting to like $10 million or something as a safeguard against fly-by-night clubs that were commonplace in USL for some time prior to like 2016), but also, you'll need full-time technical and coaching staff, scouts, and money to pay player salaries. For the owners, the mission of the club is very important to them, and if you go out looking for investors to bump up, they're going to want control, and probably not be bothered with aligning the mission as it becomes a bigger incentive to maximize profits over priorities and mission statements. Sadly, fan-owned clubs are outlawed by US Soccer Federation's standards (in line with court rulings upheld by the NFL to stop more Green Bay Packers situations), meaning the team couldn't sell shares to the public to raise funds, which I think would be something their ownership would be interested in doing, and probably would have had a very successful first run of shares. As a USL 2 club, they would not be automatically eligible for the forthcoming promotion-relegation that is going to begin soon, since USL 2 isn't part of that plan (mostly because the average club is nowhere near as successful as the Green).
 
#19 ·
catpower said:
www.uvm.edu

Construction Notice: Athletics Support Building | Facilities Management | The University of Vermont

www.uvm.edu www.uvm.edu

They are adding bathrooms, a ticket booth, a concession area and team rooms finally, which were a long part of the overall Virtue Field project. It'll be done for the 2026 soccer seasons if there are no delays I'm skeptical that will lead to a decision to sell beer just for UVM soccer, because it means you've got to do it for every sport, and I think everyone here can agree that the concession stands and their flow of foot traffic in Gutterson and Patrick is awful, and adding beer sales to the mix would make it 100x worse. The new facilities were going to be built to try and make what already isn't convenient to navigate a lot better, which probably would have opened the avenue for alcohol sales, but alas that's dead unless the $40 million restart check comes through.

It's funny to mention the Portland team, because now that the Green have been a success, especially post-championship, the chatter about professionalizing the team and moving into USL 1 is going around, even if it's just people with wishful thinking. I do believe that the current ownership group would like to achieve professional status one day, but they're happy with what they've built too. Professionalization requires a much, much higher level of investment not only in stadium (5k capacity is the minimum requirement, very likely meaning they'd have to build their own...I think owners also have to demonstrate assets amounting to like $10 million or something as a safeguard against fly-by-night clubs that were commonplace in USL for some time prior to like 2016), but also, you'll need full-time technical and coaching staff, scouts, and money to pay player salaries. For the owners, the mission of the club is very important to them, and if you go out looking for investors to bump up, they're going to want control, and probably not be bothered with aligning the mission as it becomes a bigger incentive to maximize profits over priorities and mission statements. Sadly, fan-owned clubs are outlawed by US Soccer Federation's standards (in line with court rulings upheld by the NFL to stop more Green Bay Packers situations), meaning the team couldn't sell shares to the public to raise funds, which I think would be something their ownership would be interested in doing, and probably would have had a very successful first run of shares. As a USL 2 club, they would not be automatically eligible for the forthcoming promotion-relegation that is going to begin soon, since USL 2 isn't part of that plan (mostly because the average club is nowhere near as successful as the Green).
Click to expand...
cries in the blinding Lights
 
#24 ·
Great write-up on Rob Dow and UVM Soccer in today's Portland Press Herald......

www.pressherald.com

National champion Vermont men's soccer team returns to Maine roots

Catamounts coach Rob Dow played college soccer at the University of Maine; he had his team back in the state this week for an exhibition game.
www.pressherald.com www.pressherald.com

National champion Vermont men’s soccer team returns to Maine roots
Catamounts coach Rob Dow played college soccer at the University of Maine; he had his team back in the state this week for an exhibition game.
Travis LazarczykStaff WriterAugust 11

GORHAM — Rob Dow stood next to the University of Southern Maine’s Hannaford Field on Sunday afternoon, catching up with old friends and waiting for the bus carrying his University of Vermont men’s soccer team to arrive. The defense of the national title the Catamounts won last December took a side trip to Maine this weekend for an exhibition game against the University of South Florida on Monday night at Bowdoin College.
When Dow learned USF was holding preseason camp in Maine, it was an easy decision to rearrange his team’s schedule and set up the preseason match.
“It’s like coming home for me,” Dow said.
Arguably the top coach currently working in Division I men’s soccer, Dow owes his passion for the game to a team that’s a memory. Dow spent a year at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, not far from his hometown of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, before transferring to the University of Maine.
Every time Dow leads UVM on to the pitch, he also represents a college soccer program that’s been in mothballs for 16 years. Dow played for the University of Maine, graduating in 2003, and led the Black Bears in scoring twice. Maine dropped men’s soccer in the spring of 2009, citing budgetary reasons. In recent years, the women’s soccer team at the school has thrived, winning the last two America East titles and advancing to the NCAA tournament. Maine is the only full-time member of America East that does not field a men’s soccer team.
“The best days of my life, and the best decision I ever made,” Dow said of his college days. “I grew up as a person, made friends for life, and ultimately fell in love with college soccer and became a coach. It all stems from those days at Maine.”
Dow’s wife Loren grew up in Hollis and graduated from Bonny Eagle High. His parents grew up in New Brunswick, not far from the Maine border. Dow has cousins sprinkled throughout Eastern Maine. Maine would be part of his makeup even without the diploma. Assistant coach Rory Twomey played his college soccer in Maine, too, at St. Joseph’s College.
“In 2023, we were ranked, and we made the tournament Sweet 16. Then last year was the big year,” Twomey said.
Soccer is enjoying a high point in Maine these days. The Portland Hearts of Pine are selling out every home game at Fitzpatrick Stadium. The University of Maine women’s team will begin play on a new field in October, as it tries to reach a third straight NCAA tournament. With no Division I men’s team in the state to support, why not leapfrog New Hampshire and send that love to the Catamounts? Dow is happy to have anyone from Maine jump on the bandwagon.
Image

Kennebunkport native Max Murray helped the University of Vermont men’s soccer team win the national championship last season. (Photo by Alex Weiss/UVM athletics)
This is Dow’s ninth season at Vermont, and he hasn’t suffered a losing season yet. Last season’s championship-winning run was the fourth straight trip to the NCAA tournament for the Catamounts, who could feel it building. That team graduated a lot of leadership, though, including Kennebunkport’s Max Murray, a defender who days after the national championship was selected in the first round of the MLS Super Draft by New York City FC with the 17th overall pick.
“We definitely talk about (Murray) a lot, how he was vital for us in set pieces and how he was such a tall and physical player for us,” said Connor Thompson, a Kennebunk native and grad student midfielder on UVM’s roster. “That’s something we have to try and find. We’re trying to. I think we’ve got the right guys for the team.”
That necessary team building begins with trips like this short one from Burlington to Maine, and a bigger one the team took earlier this summer. Eighteen players return, but the 11 newcomers need to incorporate into the team.
“We went to Germany in June, and we got to take a lot of our newcomers with us. So we started the gel and chemistry process with some games against top German teams. It feels like we’re a little ahead of schedule, but at the same time, you can’t replace so much of the leadership we had last year, guys who had been around five years,” Dow said.
When ESPN’s 50 States in 50 Days tour hits Vermont on Friday, it will highlight the Catamounts. Dow’s team is ranked No. 1 in the preseason United Soccer Coaches poll, just ahead of last year’s runner-up, Marshall. The season begins Aug. 21 against Sacred Heart.
“It was a really busy offseason, with media appearances and all those types of things. It’s the best type of (busy), when you can elevate the stars of your program, and this season is going to be a really hard season,” Dow said. “Everyone wants to beat us. For everyone, it’s going to be a big game. We’re going to take the pressure as a privilege and look at how that can make us better.”
A couple days back in Maine, where Dow feels at home, is the perfect way to train a little, play a game, and recharge for the upcoming season. The road to Dow’s first national championship, everything he’s accomplished as a coach, really, went through Maine. The road to the title defense brought him back.
 
C
#27 ·
SportsCenter was there, they did a live segment and packaged up some stuff to air tonight. There were not a ton of people there, but it being Friday at 2pm, it's a tough sell.

I don't know if UVM is very good or Providence is very bad, is my primary takeaway from the event. PC was 13-6-3 last year and made the second round of the tournament, but they did not look that great. Unsure what they return from the previous year.
 
M
#30 ·
C
#31 ·
When you realize that a big chunk of your 1400 season ticket holders are foremost fans of the highly successful and much better marketed team you rent your field to in the summer and have expectations about fan services that you've never given, ever and are scared you'll lose their investment after a year if you don't step your game up, we get positive results.

They do now, however, open up the door for basketball and hockey fans to ask where their beer and outside food vendors are going to be (and they should!)
 
W
#34 ·
Glad you guys won the home opener!

UNH is 2-2-1 vs BU over the last 5 years, for whatever reason they always play us tough no matter where they end up in the PL standings. That 0-1 Loss was not fun yesterday as we had shot/corner kick/Time of Possession advantage.

SHU played you guys tough though, hopefully that's a conference game next year ;)
 
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