CARY, N.C. – Maximilian Kissel scored in sudden-death overtime to help Vermont beat Marshall 2-1 on Monday night for the program's first national championship.
It was the ninth championship game decided by overtime or penalty kicks in the 21st century.
Vermont (16-2-6) became the first team in school history to win a national championship in a team sport, and the ski program won six championships. The Catamounts were also the first team in the America East to reach a national title game in a team sport.
Marshall (15-2-7) was looking to win the program's second national title in as many College Cup appearances since winning the 2020 national championship.
Kissel was the first to receive a long ball over the defense on the right flank and headed it forward as defender Alex Bamford fell to the ground. Marshall goalkeeper Aleksa Janjic came out of his box and Kissel cut to his left before sending a shot into an empty net. Kissel tore off his shirt and ran to the corner flag to celebrate with his team.
It was Vermont's 16th goal this season in the 83rd minute or later.
Kissel's teammate Marcell Papp tied the score at 1 in the 81st after a give-and-take with David Ismail following a Marshall turnover deep in his own area.
Kissel nearly gave Vermont a 2-1 lead in the 85th after clipping his defender in the box on a breakaway, but Janjic dove to his right to tip the ball just wide of the post.
Janjic made a great save midway through the first half when he denied Ismail on a one-on-one breakaway.
Tarik Pannholzer scored his third goal of the season (all in the NCAA tournament) in the 57th minute to give Marshall the lead. Vermont freshman goalkeeper Niklas Herceg botched a Rai Pinto cross and Pannholzer was there to grab the rebound.
Herceg kept the lead at 1-0 after rejecting a point-blank attempt by Haruhi Taneda in the 78th minute.
