Match Report: Vermont Green FC 1-1 FC Laval (5-4 After Penalties)

It was a historic night for soccer in Vermont at the inaugural Women’s Exhibition Match as coach Sam Mewis and Vermont Green FC emerged victorious in their much anticipated debut. It was an entertaining affair for the nearly 3,000 fans in attendance at Virtue Field, with a 1-1 regulation finish ending in a dramatic penalty shootout. The match drew the biggest crowd in Vermont Green history, by a significant margin.

Sam Mewis’ side started the match with Olivia Dubin in goal, in front of her was a backline led by club captain Olivia White at right back, centerback pairing of Roshann Purcell and Lexi Quinn, and Dominican Republic international Giovanna Dionicio out left. The midfield featured Brina Micheels, Maddie Landers, and Laney Ross. Up top, Bailey Ayer and Emma Wennar took the wide attacking positions with Neve Renwick leading the line.

The Canadian side came out organized and disciplined and it took a few minutes for the Vermonters to settle into the match. By midway through the first half, the Green started to gel and create goalscoring chances, energized by a raucous and loving crowd. The chances included a string of five consecutive corner-kicks, one of which saw Emma Wennar force a big save from the Canadian keeper.

Neve Renwick looked dangerous in the first half, too. The striker from England dazzled the crowd with her neat footwork and powerful shots on goal.

Mewis utilized her bench in the first half, bringing on attacking options in Jill Brody and Carolina Espinosa in an attempt to unlock the Laval backline. 

FC Laval also had a number of decent looks at goal in the first frame, but nothing got past Vermont’s Dubin in goal. The first half ended without a goal.  

In the 63rd minute, Renwick broke the deadlock, latching onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Emma Wennar before unleashing a rocket into the top corner of the net. Virtue Field went into a frenzy the likes of which have never been seen before. The goal will live forever in the Vermont Green FC history books.

The Green controlled much of the match after the goal, as the strategy shifted to shutting down the match. The strategy worked until the final minute of regulation, when FC Laval found an equalizer. The goal momentarily deflated the energy at Virtue Field. However, when the final whistle blew, and the referee signaled for a penalty shootout, the three thousand fans once again found themselves, brimming with a supportive energy to push the Green through the spot kicks.

Brina Micheels stepped up to take the first penalty for the Green, unfortunately sending it over the bar. Without hesitation, the crowd and the players rallied together, and the Green would not miss again. Each side made four of their first five penalties, with successful conversions from Ella Bankert, Shea O’Malley, Giovanna Dionicio, and Neve Renwick. At 4-4, the penalties went to sudden death.

On the sixth FC Laval penalty, Olivia Dubin produced the save Vermont needed, diving to her right, stonewalling the shot. The save gave way for Vermont Green FC’s Roshann Purcell to win it. Stepping up to the spot, the Middlebury College centerback buried her penalty with confidence, sending Virtue Field into hysteria and handing Vermont Green FC a victory in the first ever women’s match.

Hundreds stormed the field to mob the first group of women to wear the Vermont Green shirt, launching a celebration that would go well into the Burlington night. It was a night few will ever forget.