Match Report: Vermont Green FC 3-1 Western Mass Pioneers

It was a match for the history books at Lusitano Stadium on Saturday night as Vermont Green FC battled back for a 3-1 victory over Western Mass Pioneers. The hard fought win thrusted the Vermonters into the 2024 USL League Two Playoffs. Goals from Gerardo Castillo, Mohammed Ibrahim, and Jacob Labovitz were the difference as Vermont claimed their first ever win away at Lusitano. 

Adam Pfeifer’s starting group consisted of Jahiem Wickham in goal, and Bernardo Prego, Reid Fisher, Moussa Ndiaye, and Gerardo Castillo holding the back line. The familiar duo of Sam Layton and Rodrigo Vaza started centrally, with Jackson Castro, Zach Zengue, and Nick Lockermann ahead of them. The line was led by team goalscoring leader Yaniv Bazini.

The match started with all of the feelings of a playoff match, with Adam Pfeifer’s men knowing that in order to make the playoffs, they had to leave Western Mass with three points. With the intensity of the buildup, however, there was little to come in front of goal in the first 45 minutes, a half that was more defined by its tone. On more than one occasion, the match was stopped briefly for referees to see out scuffles between the two sides, both showing their determination to win without showing a lack of respect for one another. 

The match went into half-time goalless. The Green had 45 minutes left to save their season.

Pfeifer needed a goal from his men and his attacking substitutions proved it. In the 62nd minute, he brought on youth and experience—Jacob Labovitz, the veteran of USL, and Mohammed Ibrahim, the club’s youngest ever player—to replace Layton and Lockermann.

Just four minutes after Pfefier’s bold substitutions, Western Mass scored. Jared Smith’s free kick met Aidan Kelly’s head and arched into the top corner of the net. Lusitano erupted. 1-0 Pioneers.

The Vermonters did not let it phase them. With the loud, dedicated support of the Green Mountain Bhoys, who nestled themselves into the away end of the stadium, the Green went into an all-out attack. It was now-or-never for the Green.

Just three minutes after conceding, the left back Gerardo Castillo drove through the Pioneers line and launched an unstoppable, outside-of-the-foot curling shot into the top right corner of the net. 1-1. Game on.

Momentum swung to Vermont, the young club needed just one more goal to book a spot in the postseason. In the 84th minute, the moment arrived: 18-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim, (Mo Ibra as he’s known around the club) pounced on a loose ball at the top of the box and struck it with vigor past a swarm of Pioneers’ defenders and into the bottom corner. 2-1 Vermont.

Pandemonium, and chaos. 

With a playoff spot just minutes away, Pfeifer shifted his men into a defensive formation to secure the match. In the 90th minute, Yaniv Bazini sprayed a ball up field to a sprinting Jacob Labovitz who cut back and lifted the ball above the Pioneers keeper to put Vermont up 3-1. The insurance goal from the Soccer Post Burlington owner ignited the celebrations. Moments later, the final whistle blew: Vermont Green FC was headed back to the playoffs. 

And thus, Vermont Green FC will host the Eastern Conference Qualifying Round of the USL League Two Playoffs this Tuesday, July 16th, 7pm at Virtue Field. Get your tickets, they will move very quickly: tickets.vermontgreenfc.com.