UVM Catamounts (7-3-1) defeated New Jersey Institute of Technology (3-7-1) in a Conference soccer game on NJIT’s homecoming weekend Oct. 9 at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium, 1-0. 

The game was intense and physical, as it was a conference game. It was a long battle for both sides as junior defender Noah Egan scored the first and only goal of the game within the first four minutes, assisted by senior midfielder Joe Morrison. UVM dominated shots on goal 11-4 by the end of the game. 

The Catamounts moved the ball upfield and kept the active attention of the Highlanders defensive the majority of the first half. 

There was strong ball movement shared between Catamount forwards junior Jojo Moulton-Condiotti and graduate student Matt Black in their successful attempt at advancing up the field. 

The first yellow card of the game was called on Black 18 minutes in. 

While the Catamounts displayed effective passing and offense, NJIT defenders began to step up. Highlander forward Gerald Cubero and defender Costa shared quick ball movements in an attempt to keep the ball away from UVM.

With transitioning from offense to defense, Catamount defender first-year Adrian Schulze Solano kept up with the Highlanders’ need to score, pushing back against their rising offense and midfield. 

By the end of the first half, NJIT had racked up two yellow cards and UVM one, proving the physicality of the game. 

The second half started out strong for both teams – senior midfielder Alex Nagy kept up strategic defense, but Highlander forward Cubero kept up with swift quick ball movements up the field.  

The Catamounts outshot the Highlanders in the first half with shots on goal 5-0, but NJIT quickly advanced to having their first shot on goal of the game at the 35th minute into the second half of the game, which Catamount senior goalkeeper Nate Silveira saved.

Highlander midfielder J.J. Gaeir briefly offset the game with a tackle, taking down Catamount Candiottie. Still, the Catamounts defense did not let Highlanders’ forwards and midfielders get by, jumping on every 50/50 ball and quick-strategic ball movements keeping the Highlanders from scoring.

The Highlanders focused their offensive attempts in the last 10 minutes of the game, but the Catamounts held their ground and managed to maintain strong defense in the end to win the game. 

The game ended with 34 fouls in total, 18 for Vermont and 16 for NJIT – in the end, Vermont earned one yellow card and NJIT earned three.  

The win brought the Vermont Catamounts back after their previous few losses according to the UVM athletics website.