Vermont Green FC will face league newcomers and playoff contenders New England Futbol Club on Saturday night at Virtue Field in a crucial Northeast Division matchup. The Vermonters are unbeaten through nine matches and tied atop the division table with a game in hand, but the third place NEFC are chomping at the bit to pace the league leaders. They’ll be heading north with a roster loaded with former MLS academy talent.
HISTORY
This match will be the first encounter between Vermont Green FC and New England FC, as the Worcester, MA-based visitors are in their debut season in USL League Two. This will be the only regular season meeting between the two sides this season.
NEFC IN FOCUS
New England Futbol Club was founded in 2009 and is based in Greater Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts. The club has a nationally-recognized pedigree of youth talent, and serves as a launching pad for high level youth soccer players in New England. The club has operations throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.
The club is currently in their inaugural USL League Two season, and is 6W-3L-1T through their first 10 games, pacing Western Mass Pioneers and Vermont Green with 19 points to the league leaders’ 23, and are firmly in third place. They have brought a high level of play to a division that was already considered among the best in the country, and have managed big wins against top clubs like Seacoast United Phantoms.
The Massachusetts side boasts a roster full of former NEFC Academy and New England Revolution Academy players that now play at top NCAA Division 1 programs, many of whom have played together for years. This combination of youth, talent, and familiarity has proven a successful combination for head coach Jake Beverlin, who, alongside Director Paul Baber–formerly of Seacoast United–have set the new club up for success.
Vermont Green FC fans should expect a high energy encounter on Saturday, and should brace themselves for NEFC to be Northeast Division contenders this year and into the future.
HUSKIES ARRIVE
Two players to watch this weekend could be new arrivals Gabe Fernandez and Alexander Hall, both of the University of Washington. The youngsters have already brought a spark to the Green in their first matches, showing speed and skill in their debut starts at AC Connecticut on Tuesday.
Fernandez and Hall follow in the footsteps of previous UW imports like Gabe Threadgold, Nate Jones, and Chris Meyers who, due to the university’s trimester schedule, typically arrive midway through June.
Fans will notice some similarities between Gabe Fernandez and multi-year Green, Gabe Threadgold: The two Gabes play the same position, wear the #44, and grew up in nearby Seattle neighborhoods. They are products of both the University of Washington and the Seattle Sounders Academy, have a similar build, and play in a similar style. Threadgold was a fan favorite during his time in Vermont, and Fernandez is off to a bright start.
STREAM THE MATCH
All Vermont Green FC matches are streamed live, for free, with commentary at vermontgreenfc.com/streaming. This match will also be broadcast on WYCI.
ON THE CONCOURSE
Miso Toh Kome, Ahli Baba Kabob Ship, and Church Street Cheesteaks will be serving on the concourse. Ben & Jerry’s will be scooping FREE ICE CREAM! Arrive early to enjoy the concourse full of food vendors, tabling partners, and more!
TICKETS
The match is sold out!