FINAL SCORE: Vermont 2, NJIT 0
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont (7-1-4, 2-0-1 AE) extended its unbeaten streak to 11 matches thanks to two goals off second half corners by Zach Barrett and Max Murray as they topped NJIT (4-6-2, 1-2-0) 2-0 Sunday. It was the Catamounts annual Rally Around Mental Health match presented by Redstone Lofts and United Way Northwest Vermont at Virtue Field Sunday.
 
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Postgame – Coach Dow & Murray
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"We've played NJIT the most in conference over the last four years, we know each other very well," said Head Coach Rob Dow. "We knew the margins would be tight to win the game. I'm proud of our team for remaining composed and knowing we would eventually convert our attacking changes. Set pieces in the America East are so critical and we did a great job executing our plan on both sides of the ball. On to Bryant."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the 10th minute Andrew Millar played a great through ball from midfield to send Yaniv Bazini in alone on the NJIT keeper. NJIT's Devin Armstrong came out to cut the angle down and made the save.
• The Catamounts next great chance came in the 44th minute after NJIT was called for a handball just outside the box. Armstrong made a diving save at full extension to rob Marcell Papp on the free kick attempt.
• UVM outshot the Highlanders 9-1 in the first half and Armstrong made three saves to keep things scoreless.
• In the 75th minute Armstrong made another diving save, robbing Sydney Wathuta on the post, but critically the Catamounts earned their tenth corner of the afternoon.
• Wathuta took the corner, and his cross evaded the initial group of Catamounts and Highlanders but settled on the right foot of Barrett who one-touched it into the back of the net to at long last give Vermont the lead 75:12 into the contest.
• Wathuta delivered the insurance marker for the Catamounts on their next corner in the 83rd minute. This time his cross found Max Murray directly in front and his header home made it 2-0. For Murray it was his fourth goal of the season. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• With the win the Catamounts now sit alone in first place in America East with seven points. UVM will host second place Bryant (6 Pts.) next Saturday at Virtue Field.
• Vermont is the only team this season in league play to earn at least a point in all three America East match days.
• With two assists Sunday night Sydney Wathuta now leads the team and America East with eight this season. His eight assists are tied for fifth-best in Division I. His .72 assists per game is ranked third nationally.
• The Catamounts offense and depth has come through time and time again this season. UVM has scored 11 goals in the 76th minute or later and eight goals in the 83rd minute or later this year.
• Vermont goalkeeper Niklas Herceg earned his second straight shutout Sunday, recording one save. He is now 3-0-1 in his collegiate career with a .786 save percentage and 0.75 goals-against average.
• Vermont's current .750 winning percentage is tied for 15th best in the NCAA.
• Zach Barrett's 76th minute tally was his third career game-winning goal.
• With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Children's Trust Foundation as part of the Cats Wins, Community Wins Initiative.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts return to action next weekend as they host second place Bryant on Saturday, October 19 at 4:30 p.m. from Virtue Field. Saturday is Senior Day presented by MVP Health Care, UVM's senior class will be honored in a pregame ceremony at midfield. All the action will be broadcast live on AmericaEast.TV with Brian McLaughlin on the call.

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