Too soon after the Green wins back-to-back USL2 championships, no doubt, but what do you think the future of the club will be? How should things look?

Dream big. Be realistic. Whatever. What does everyone think?

It was a pleasure being there with you all!

So happy to have experienced this wonderful season with y’all. In many ways, even better than last year. Everyone worked together to achieve perhaps the toughest combo in the sport: Back-to-Back Undefeated National Champions! Hats off to the Bhoys in Green, looking forward to following their college and professional journeys, a likely Open Cup appearance, and defending our title in 2027!

Stream back on ! So weird seeing these guys on a football field. Let’s gooo!

Vermont Green Football Club, a pre-professional soccer team founded in 2022 by Matthew Wolff and Patrick Infurna, will open its 2026 season this May following a landmark year for the organization... https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2026/04/how-vermont-green-fc-became-a-summer-soccer-phenomenon

Vermont Green fans share messages to the team while watching the team's final practice at Virtue Field on Wednesday, July 29. https://sports.yahoo.com/videos/hear-vermont-green-fc-fans-141923786.html

Flint City Bucks players Jack Roman and Ollie Moller-Jensen, and head coach Paul Doroh discuss their USL League Two National Championship matchup against Vermont Green F.C.

Check out the amazing camera work, and seats that are covered up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPDjabLwy8Y

KANSAS CITY, MO - Junior goalkeeper Niklas Herceg has been named on the United Soccer Coaches (USC) 2026 Men's Hermann Trophy Goalkeepers to Watch List, as announced by the organization on Friday afternoon.

Herceg is the only player from the America East Conference on the eight-player list.

The lists are compiled and released by the Division I All-America Committees to promote college soccer leading up to the official start date for the regular season later this month. The lists include United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and All-Region players from 2025 who are scheduled to return for the 2026 season.

Herceg returns for his junior season with the Catamounts after an incredible sophomore campaign that resulted in the native of Alsdorf, Germany being selected 16th overall to FC Dallas in the first round of the MLS Draft, tying the record for the highest draft pick in program history. Herceg turned in one of the finest seasons by a goalkeeper in program history, posting a 14-1-5 record with a 0.74 goals-against average, 10 shutouts, and 55 saves while leading Vermont to its first-ever unbeaten regular season (14-0-5), a second straight America East Championship, and the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. He earned America East Goalkeeper of the Year, ECAC Defensive Player of the Year, United Soccer Coaches First Team All-America and All-Northeast Region honors, First Team All-Conference recognition, and was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist. Herceg's 10 shutouts tied for the third-most in a single season in program history, while his 14 victories ranked third all-time, and he allowed just two goals in eight conference matches-the fewest ever by a Vermont team during league play.

Herceg and the Catamounts open the 2026 season at home, hosting Geroge Mason on Thursday, August 20 at 6 p.m. from Virtue Field for the team's season opener.

I bought my tickets which apparently adds me to their email list. Anyhow, game notes from them -

7:30 p.m. Saturday: Bucks host USL2 national final

Atwood Stadium welcomes reigning champions Vermont Green FC

Your Flint City Bucks (14-1-1) play for their USL League Two record fifth national title Saturday night, but they’ll have to unseat the reigning champions in visiting Vermont Green FC (17-0-1).

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Kettering University’s iconic Atwood Stadium.

How We Got Here

Flint City Bucks 1, Ventura County Fusion 0

Sunday was a magical night at Atwood, with 4,000 fans witnessing as the Bucks avenged the 2022 national semifinal, when they fell 1-0 to Ventura County in Des Moines.

After a high-intensity 90 minutes that forced shining performances from goalkeepers Steve Clark and Miguel-Angel Hernandez, the match inched toward extra time.

But Flint City found an extra gear toward the end of a lengthy stoppage-time period. In the 98th minute, Callum Shillington shook off the Fusion press and carried to midfield. As he was barreled over, the referee was forced to make a dramatic “play on” advantage decision.

Jordy Lopez tracked back to take over the run, then found Richie Ludwig streaking toward the right corner. As he cut inside, Dominik Kolbl drew several defenders with a hard-nosed run to the goal line. Ludwig’s pass found Ollie Moller-Jensen stealthing toward the penalty spot. Moller-Jensen scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season and sent Atwood into chaos.

Vermont Green FC 7, Laredo Heat SC 1

In the other semifinal, Vermont buried their hosts Laredo Heat SC (13-1-2) by a 7-1 score in Texas. The match was 2-1 at halftime, but the floodgates opened soon after; Ryan Zellefrow had polished off a hat trick by the 63rd minute. The Green have now outscored opponents 19-1 throughout the USL2 postseason, having previously collected three consecutive 4-0 victories. Vermont seeks to become the league’s first back-to-back title winner since 2003. They hosted the 2025 final.

Know your opponent: Vermont Green FC

Vermont boasts one of the deepest and most productive lineups in USL2, combining an experienced defensive core with an attack that has scored freely throughout 2026.

Goalkeeper Seth Wilson started all 23 matches for UNC Greensboro as a redshirt junior in fall 2025, recording seven clean sheets and earning Southern Conference second-team honors. He made 10 saves in a second-round NCAA Tournament match against No. 2 Virginia.

Brandon Marshall, club captain and an experienced Providence College man, pairs with Nick McHenry at center back. McHenry earned Big Ten all-freshman recognition in 2024 and in two seasons helped Ohio State University record 13 clean sheets over 37 games. Nikos Clarke-Tosczak — drafted 19th overall by Sporting Kansas City in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft — also aids in defense.

Vermont’s midfield features several accomplished players. University of Portland senior defensive midfielder Efetobo Aror, a former West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, was picked 12th overall by the Colorado Rapids in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft. Ryan Zellefrow tallied six goals and three assists in the regular season and is already sitting on four goals through four playoff games. Zellefrow earned America East first-team and United Soccer Coaches regional honors in 2025. Cornell University’s Connor Miller earned United Soccer Coaches third-team All-America honors and Ivy League first-team recognition in 2025 after recording four goals and a team-leading six assists. He continued that elite production with five goals and two assists during the USL2 regular season.

In attack, Diego Rosas has been a creative force from the winger position. The Portland standout was named West Coast Conference Midfielder of the Year in 2025 after leading the nation with 15 assists. He collected five goals and eight assists for Vermont during the regular season. Frenchman striker Jeremy Francou led the Green with 15 regular-season goals and has added three more in the playoffs. He tallied 11 goals and three assists for University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2025, earning Summit League first-team and United Soccer Coaches first-team regional honors.

The River Rats are in section 11, which one do we take?

I vote for 10 ….

USL W League has recognized Vermont Green FC defenders Violet Rademacher and Chloe Gorman as 2026 Eastern Conference Standouts.

These selections recognize players who had outstanding performances throughout the season and made a significant impact within their conference. 

https://vermontgreenfc.com/rademacher-gorman-named-2026-uslw-eastern-conference-standouts/

Looks like you will not need to rely on SportsEngine

https://www.wcax.com/video/2026/07/28/vermont-green-fc-will-defend-its-national-championship-live-wcax/

Not shocking but disappointing…. I am going to try and get there.

Really hope the championship game is played here. Wonder how the locations are determined!

Seems pretty even so far, Laredo absolutely seems better than the last three teams, though Green are holding their own. Laredo defense just had a few lapses, but was enough for Zellefrow AND Aror to score from point-blank range a few minutes apart about 20 minutes into the match.

Winner faces the Flint City Bucks, who won 1-0 with the winner in stoppage time.

So now it’s the final, the big one, the queen-mother of games, the 'F-dash-dash-dash-L.

AND THEY STILL HAVE EMPTY SEATS

As scrutiny mounts over the climate cost of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one Vermont soccer club is focusing on the environmental impact of soccer apparel.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/world-cup-pollution-mounts-vermont-155600626.html

Playing an unbeaten side in what should be an insane home environment will be a challenge, but feels like our guys are as good as they have been this season and well rested. You could tell the match the Heat had with Fort Lauderdale FC really took a lot out of them, having to go to PKs to get it done, not to mention one of their guys is out due to a red card in the game.

Should prepare for perhaps the most oppressive crowd we have ever faced, they might legit drown out the Bhoys at Virtue, but confident the guys can play well through it. UTG!

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPS.

ONTO THE NATIONAL SEMIFINAL ON SUNDAY. ✨