Vermont Green FC are set to welcome CS Saint-Laurent to Virtue Field on Wednesday night to contest the first ever Maple Cup. The newly formed, annual cup match pits top Quebec opponents against the Vermonters in a cross-border celebration of soccer, symbolized by the beloved maple industry shared by the two communities.
CS SAINT-LAURENT IN FOCUS
The Ligue1 Quebec Champions will visit Burlington for the first time on Wednesday, and while the trip is an international one, only 75 miles separate the two teams as the crow flies. As one of the most well-supported clubs in Canada’s semi-professional divisions, Virtue Field could see an influx of navy blue and orange.
CS Saint-Laurent was founded in 1982 in the Montreal neighborhood that shares their name. The club joined Ligue1 Quebec in 2022, finishing second in their debut season, and winning the title of Champions of Quebec in 2023. In addition to their instant success upon arrival in the semi-professional league ranks, CS Saint-Laurent made an impressive debut to the 2024 Canadian Championship, defeating professional side Halifax Wanderers FC before falling to eight-time Canadian Champions and 2017 MLS Cup Champions Toronto FC.
Impressively, CS Saint-Laurent has built much of their success on local players, with their club and neighborhood becoming renowned for its talent. The club perhaps most famously developed Moise Bombito, the Colorado Rapids and Canadian National Team player who is poised for a major European move this summer. In the week leading up to the Maple Cup, CS Saint-Lauren players Loic Kwemi and Safwane Mlah signed with the Canadian Premier League’s Valour FC, and Jefferson Alphonse signed with Halifax Wanderers FC.
Vermont Green FC fans can expect a high level of soccer when the Quebecois side arrive at Virtue Field, and while the trophy is new, both clubs will share a desire to lift any hardware presented to them. Expect an electric contest in Burlington.
MONTREALAIS IN GREEN
Montreal will very much be in the building on Wednesday night, but not only with the visitors. Vermont Green FC currently roster three players from the Montreal area, two of which were developed in the CS Saint-Laurent system.
Yann Toualy, who transferred to the Green in June, joins the club after spending his youth and senior careers with Saint-Laurent. Toualy, who was a major part of the 2023 Ligue1 Quebec winning campaign as well as the recent Canadian Championship run, wears number 64 at Vermont Green FC, a number that represents the bus line that travels through the neighborhood of Saint-Laurent. Toulay has two goals in his last two matches for the Green.
Another new Vermonter from the Saint-Laurent system is Nathan Simeon, who transferred to the University of Vermont ahead of the Catamounts 2024 season. The natural right-back from Laval could feature for the Green against his former club on Wednesday.
Vermont Green FC captain Daniel Pacella is also from Montreal, and while not a product of CS Saint-Laurent, is familiar with much of the talent in Ligue1 Quebec.
STREAM THE MATCH
You can stream the match LIVE for free at www.vermontgreenfc.com/streaming. The match will also be on local cable television on WYCI.
ON THE CONCOURSE
El Gato and The Caracas will be serving food at the match, Vivid Coffee will have coffee and treats. Adult beverages from Zero Gravity, Shacksbury, and Smugglers Notch Distillery will also be served.