Vermont looks to extend its first College Cup appearance when it takes on No. 3 seed Denver in Friday’s semifinals in college soccer.
No. 3 seed Denver (15-3-4) has yet to concede a goal during the 2024 NCAA soccer tournament while advancing to the program’s second appearance in the College Cup. On Friday evening at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, the Pioneers take on this year’s Cinderella squad when they face unseeded Vermont (15-2-5). The Catamounts are in their first College Cup after coming up a game short with a quarterfinal loss in 2022. For Vermont, this was its fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance, while Denver is in its second straight tournament.
How to Watch NCAA Tournament, First Semifinal: Vermont vs. Denver in Men’s College Soccer Today:
Game Date: Friday, Dec. 13, 2023
Game Time: 5 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN U
Live stream the Vermont vs. Denver NCAA men’s college soccer semifinal game on Fubo: Start your free trial today!
Vermont stunned No. 2 seed Pitt on Saturday with a 2-0 victory in Pittsburgh. After a scoreless first half, Maximilina Kissel knocked home his 10th goal of the season at the 50:27 mark before Yaniv Bazini’s 13th of the year provided the insurance at 89:49. Goalie Niklas Herceg made six saves to keep a clean sheet. Bazini’s 13 goals lead the team, as Vermont has a 45-17 goal-scoring edge. Herceg has six shutouts and is 11-1-2 with a 0.63 goals-against average.
The Pioneers blanked UMass 3-0 at home on Saturday to return to the College Cup. Jason Belloli’s first goal of the season at 7:51 set the tone before Ronan Wynne made it a 2-0 game at 42:25 with his second goal of the year. Oje Ofunrein got the last tally at 49:09, his ninth of the campaign, while Isaac Nehme made three saves. Ofunrein leads the team with nine goals, while Sam Bassett has eight to go with 13 assists. Nehme has eight shutouts to go with a 0.79 GAA and 15-3-4 record.
The Catamounts and Denver have not met previously. The winner advances to Monday’s championship game against either 13th-seeded Marshall or top-seed Ohio State.
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