Box Score ORLANDO, Fla. –
Carter Johnson scored in the 105th minute to lift the Catamounts in a 3-2 double overtime win over the 12-seed UCF Sunday night in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament at the UCF Soccer Complex. With the win, Vermont's ninth in NCAA Tournament history the Catamounts improve to 13-5-2 on the campaign. UVM advances in the NCAA Tournament to face the five-seed West Virginia next Saturday.
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COACH'S QUOTE
"This game had it all," head coach
Rob Dow said. "We battled adversity and came storming back. That's Catamount soccer baby!"
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Knights opened the scoring just 66 seconds into the contest. A Catamounts clearing attempt was mishit and UCF took advantage of the early chance. A low cross from Clarence Awoudor was one-timed home by Saku Heiskanen right in front of UVM's Owen Jack. It was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year's fifth goal of the season.
- Vermont equalized in the 17th minute taking an advantage of a UCF miscue. With the Catamounts on the press a UCF defender played an ill-advised ball that Neils Hartman pounced on. He intercepted the pass, faked inside and then went outside before slotting home a great finish to make it 1-1. It was Hartman's first collegiate goal.
- Yaniv Bazini gave the Catamounts the lead in the 55th minute. After drawing a foul to the right of the UCF goal Bazini opted to take his own free kick. From 15 yards out the UCF defense and keeper Juanvi Muñoz appeared to setup expecting a cross from the junior forward. Bazini went for goal and curled a perfect shot in at the near post for his 11th goal of the season.
- With just over 13 minutes left in regulation the Knights tied the game with Awoudor's fourth goal of the season. Lucca Dourado played a low through ball to the far post and Awoudor just beat Jack to the ball and it trickled into the net.
- Johnson delivered late in the second overtime to send Vermont to the Round of 16 for the second straight season. Jake Ashford beat two UCF defenders in space before playing a ball wide to Bazini. Yaniv one-touched a floating cross to the box and Johnson beat Muñoz to the ball and headed it home for his sixth goal of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Vermont is 9-1-0 all-time in the postseason when scoring three or more goals. Their only loss was a 4-3 overtime tilt in the 1975 NCAA Tournament.
- Tonight's win was Head Coach Rob Dow's fifth NCAA Tournament victory, he is the program's all-time leader in NCAA wins
- The Catamounts are now 12-1-2 when Yaniv Bazini scores in his career. Bazini has three goals and an assist in two games during the NCAA Tournament.
- This is the third straight season and fifth time in the last eight seasons that an America East team has advanced to the Round of 16. Vermont and No. 8 New Hampshire have both advanced to next weekend.
- With today's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Foodbank as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Vermont Mutual has committed to donating $15,000 to Vermont Foodbank for the 2021 season. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support. Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.
WHO'S NEXT
The Catamounts will travel to Morgantown, West Virginia to face the five-seed West Virginia in the Third Round of the 2023 NCAA Soccer Tournament. The third round match is scheduled at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium for Saturday, November 25 at 4 p.m. (ET) and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
New England Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's soccer
