MEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
No. 22 Vermont (1-1) will host two games at Virtue Field over Labor Day Weekend, starting on Friday (Sep. 1) when it battles Cornell at 6 p.m. ET. The Catamounts will then welcome Colgate for the Peter Baldwin Memorial Game, presented by Morgan Stanley, on Monday (Sep. 4) at 2 p.m. ET. All matchups will broadcast live on ESPN+. Tickets are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets, or by visiting the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office one hour prior to kickoff. Vermont will also be hosting its annual Pep Rally, presented by TD Bank, prior to Friday's game.
 
RELATED LINKS
Sep. 1 vs. Cornell: Watch Live on ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets
Sep. 4 vs. Colgate: Watch Live on ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets
Shop Official Team Gear
 
PEP RALLY pres. TD BANK
Prior to Friday's matchup with Cornell, fans are invited to attend the annual Pep Rally, presented by TD Bank. The Pep Rally begins at 5 p.m. There will be free food, lawn games, giveaways, live music, and special performances. Admission to the Pep Rally is free, with tickets for the game available for purchase.
 
SCOUTING CORNELL
The Big Red were selected No. 20 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25, but have fallen out of the national rankings despite not playing a game last week. Cornell begins its season on Friday after an impressive 14-4-1 (5-1-1 Ivy) mark in 2022 that saw the Big Red advance to the NCAA Tournament Third Round. Ivy League Rookie of the Year, Ryan Friedberg returns in goal for the Big Red after posting a 1.01 goals against average and .685 save percentage a season ago. Riedberg and defender, Connor Drought were named to the United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch lists. Drought produced 14 points a season ago, tallying a team-high eight assists. Cornell brings back five of its top-seven points getters from 2022.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont and Cornell meet for the fifth time in series history, and second consecutive season. The Catamounts own a 3-1 mark against the Big Red, and earned a 2-1 victory on the road in 2022. Yaniv Bazini and Max Murray were UVM's goal scorers in the win. Vermont is 1-0 at home against Cornell, earning a 2-1 win in Burlington back in 2010.
 
PETER BALDWIN MEMORIAL GAME pres. MORGAN STANLEY
The annual Peter Baldwin Games allow us to honor Peter's memory, and his commitment to the special Vermont community through both his time at UVM and his work at Morgan Stanley. Baldwin, a 1968 graduate and 1984 UVM Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, guided the Vermont men's soccer team to three straight Yankee Conference titles and currently ranks fifth on the school's all-time scoring list. Admission is free to kids age 12 or younger. Fans are invited to come down to the field for a postgame "Kick with the Cats."

SCOUTING COLGATE
Colgate opened its 2023 campaign with a 2-0 victory over Siena on August 24, but fell to Marist 3-1 a few days later. The Raiders are slated to visit America East's Binghamton on Friday before heading to Burlington. Four different Raiders have provided goals this season. Aidan Davock returns for his senior season after leading Colgate with five goals and 11 points last season. Andrew Cooke is back in goal for the Raiders after posting a 1.23 goals against average and .712 save percentage in 2022.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont owns a 9-6-2 all-time record against Colgate. The two squads last met in 2021 when the Catamounts earned a 2-0 victory on the road, powered by goals from Alex Nagy and Yves Borie. Colgate took the last meeting at Virtue Field, winning 1-0 in double overtime in 2019.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
First-year defender, Nick Lockermann was named America East Rookie of the Week on Monday afternoon. The Nuremberg, Germany native played the full 90 minutes on the back line in his collegiate debut against Western Michigan, helping the Cats earn a 2-0 season-opening win. Lockermann added two shots in the victory.
 
NATIONALLY-RANKED CATS
Vermont's national ranking marks the 11th-straight United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll that has featured the Catamounts, dating back to September 20, 2022.

AMERICA EAST PRESEASON POLL
The Catamounts were ranked No. 2 in the America East Preseason Poll by the league's coaches. Vermont received three first-place votes, and a total of 45 points. New Hampshire edged out UVM with four first-place votes and a total of 46 points.
 
A HISTORIC 2022 SEASON
The 2022 Vermont men's soccer season was a memorable one, with the Catamounts advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals for just the second time in program history. UVM carried a 16-4-2 (5-1-1 AE) record and achieved a program-best No. 4 national ranking in the final United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. The Catamounts had an impressive NCAA Tournament run, beginning with a thrilling 3-2 double-overtime victory over Quinnipiac in the First Round. UVM then traveled to No. 11 SMU, and scored three goals in the final 25 minutes to earn a 3-2 victory. Vermont returned home to defeat UCLA 3-0, before falling to eventual national champion, No. 3 Syracuse 1-0 on the road in the NCAA Quarterfinals.

ORDER OFFICIAL TEAM GEAR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 5
UVM Athletics has partnered with BSN Sports to offer official Vermont men's soccer apparel. Shirts, polos, hoodies, jackets, and hats are available from BSN and Nike so you can show your Catamount pride. Order today at bsnteamsports.com/shop/UVMMSOC23.

New England Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's soccer