Courtesy Vermont Sports Information
RICHMOND, Va. – No. 23 Vermont was crowned the champion of the 41st annual ODU Soccer Classic on Sunday afternoon, despite suffering a 2-1 loss at Virginia Commonwealth for its first loss of the season. The Catamounts’ winning streak to begin the season came to an end at five to match their best start since 2005.
UVM (5-1-0) won the event by virtue of its 3-1 win over host Old Dominion on Friday night. Defender Loftur Eriksson was named the tournament MVP, while Arthur Bacquet, Stefan Lamanna, and Brian Wright were all selected to the All-Tournament Team.
“VCU was deserving today. They played with real urgency and desire and unfortunately we couldn’t match it,” said head coach Jesse Cormier. “Our intensity and willingness to meet the standard today just wasn’t there and we underperformed in each area of the field. We need to pay attention to our missing elements and our failure to improve our performance as we move forward. VCU gave us plenty to think about and ways to improve.”
The teams were only 25 seconds away from playing a scoreless first half when Eli Lockaby’s one-timer deflected off a Vermont defender into the net for his first goal of the season. Fortia Munts picked up the assist on the opening goal.
Munts was the catalyst once again after halftime in the 64th minute as the Rams doubled their lead. Munts dribbled inside the Vermont penalty box before dishing a pass into the six-yard box for Jorge Herranz, who beat Eric Venezia (four saves) for a 2-0 cushion.
Lamanna drew one back for the Catamounts in the 78th minute as he collected his first goal of the season. Lamanna picked up a loose ball and dribbled inside the six-yard box before beating VCU keeper Pierre Gardan (six saves).
Vermont pressed for an equalizer down the stretch but couldn’t knot the score. UVM finished the contest with a 14-10 edge in shots.
The 23rd-ranked Cats continue a four-game road trip on Wednesday (Sept. 16) when they travel to Bryant for a 4 p.m. kickoff.
ODU SOCCER CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Roger Rojas-Goodbold – Old Dominion
Sebastian Hauret – Old Dominion
Jimmy Filerman – Old Dominion
Neil Martorana – Radford
Jo Verle Rimstad – Radford
Fortia Munts – VCU
Francesco Amorosino – VCU
Loftur Eriksson – Vermont
Arthur Bacquet – Vermont
Stefan Lamanna – Vermont
Brian Wright – Vermont