BURLINGTON, Vt. – The No. 5 Bryant men's soccer team is on the road to play top seed and nationally-ranked No. 2 Vermont in the finals of the America East Championship on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. 90 minutes. One ball. One opportunity.

Sunday's match marks the third consecutive America East Championship game for head coach Ruben Resendes and the Bulldogs. The Black and Gold won the championship in 2023 against New Hampshire and fell short in the 2024 championship against the Catamounts. The Black and Gold are eager to keep moving forward and continue to make a name for themselves, on the precipice of turning a great season into one that people at Bryant will remember for a long time.

Sunday's matchup is the second game of the postseason for both teams. The Bulldogs have won three games in a row, including a 4-2 win over UMass Lowell in the semifinals of the America East Championship. The Catamounts had a scare in the semifinals against New Hampshire but responded to adversity with a goal in the last five minutes and the first goal in overtime. The Catamounts have won their last five games in a row and are unbeaten in 28-straight games dating back to last season. Both teams are jostling for position in the national rankings, with a win against a top five team going a long way ahead of the NCAA Division I Tournament.

Opponent: Vermont
Location: Burlington, Vt. (Virtue Field)
Kickoff: Sunday, November 16 – 1:00 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Livestats: LiveStats
 
Series History:

• This matchup will be the eighth meeting between these two teams.
• Vermont holds a 7-0 record in this matchup.
• In last year's championship, Bryant tied the game on a Marc Pitarch Bayot goal in 82nd minute but Vermont scored the winner in the 86th.

Notes and Notables:

• Bryant has outscored America East opponents 21-6 so far this season.
• Bryant is 2-1-1 against ranked opponents this season.
• Ruben Resendes has a record of 42-9-8 (.780) as the head coach of Bryant University men's soccer. His 85.3% career winning percentage ranks third among active coaches in all divisions who have spent at least five seasons as a head coach.
• Mamadi Jiana earned player of the game for his two goals in the first half against UMass Lowell. Jiana has 23 shots on goal this season for the Black and Gold, the second-most in the conference. Jiana's two goals against UMass Lowell are tied for the most in a single America East Championship game.
• Tiago Dias earned two assists against UMass Lowell. Jorge Veintimilla and Jaime Amaro are the only other Bulldogs with two assists in one game.
• Fermin Rodriguez scored a goal and an assist against UMass Lowell.
• Enzo Carvalho had two saves against UMass Lowell. Carvalho's 80% save percentage is tied for the best in the conference.
• Paco Fernandez earned America East Midfielder of the Year honors. Fernandez has three goals and an assist in the last three games.
• Jaime Amaro earned America East Striker of the Year honors. Amaro earned a goal and an assist against New Hampshire and recorded three shots on goal against UMass Lowell. Amaro is one goal away from tying the school record for most goals in a season, one point away from tying the school record for most points in a season and is one assist away from breaking the school record for most assists in a season.
• Marc Pitarch Bayot's six assists are the second-most in the America East. He is one assist away from tying the school record for most assists in a season.

About the Catamounts:

• Vermont earned the No. 2 spot in the United Soccer Coaches rankings.
• Vermont has not lost a match since Oct. 26, 2024.
• The Catamounts were the recipients of the America East Coaching Staff of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.
• Vermont has attempted 118 corners this season, the most in the America East.
• David Ismail has scored nine goals this season, the second-most in the America East.
• Andrew Millar and Nicolas Loebus each have five assists on the season, the fourth-most in the America East.