Adam Pfeifer’s men ran riot over Pathfinder FC in front of a record-breaking crowd of 1,633 on Wednesday as Vermont Green continued to chase a playoff spot. Two goals in the first half, along with six in the second, and 21 shots to zero from the opposition overall, helped the Green secure the third place spot in the Northeast Division. 

The Vermonters opened the scoring early once again. Matthew Goncalves stepped up to the spot, as Pathfinder’s Kyntrell Hendrickson was forced to walk off after an early straight red card. The Cornell man sent goalkeeper Karl Vernet the wrong way to give the Boys in Green a now ever-typical early advantage in what was just the first minute. After the red card, Pathfinder dropped deep to try to nullify Vermont’s threat. Until the 39th minute, Vernet and the crossbar did well, with the latter stopping thunderous strikes from Joe Morrison and Goncalves, and the netminder making some saves of his own. Just before the 40-minute mark, however, Jack Cloherty scored the second of the match, and his first for the club, after a lovely bit of skill and a perfectly executed chip assist from the star of the first half, Goncalves. 

In the second half, Pathfinder brought on a new goalkeeper who was in for a bumpy ride. Goncalves had run the New York side ragged in the first 45 and it showed. The Green opened the second half scoring in the 51st minute through Mark O’Neill, who scored a goal-of-the-season contender, pirouetting through the defense and slotting home a superb finish to make it 3-0. Diba Nwegbo and Sam McCann decided they wanted in on the goal scoring as well: Nwegbo hat-trick and McCann a brace. Nwegbo’s tally included an emphatic penalty and McCann’s a lovely finish off of the inside of the post. Nwegbo’s triple is the first in Vermont Green FC history. 

Now the Vermonters’ playoff fate is almost certainly in their hands:

The final Eastern Conference wildcard spot will belong to Vermont Green FC or Hudson Valley Hammers.

Both clubs play their regular season finale Sunday evening. The tiebreaker —goal differential — heavily favors the Green (Vermont, +23; Hudson Valley, +15). This means the Boys in Green must match the result of the Hudson Valley Hammers, who play FA Euro New York, to secure an inaugural season playoff berth.

It all comes down to the Green’s season finale at Virtue Field on Sunday, July 17 against the red-hot Western Mass Pioneers. The Ludlow-based side have won nine straight, the longest winning streak in the nation.

Get your tickets and support the Green in the most important, and last match of the regular season.

Notes From Burlington:

  • Virtue Field was electric, as the club set another new attendance record of 1,633.
  • Diba Nwegbo scored the Vermont Green FC’s first-ever hat trick, in just 45 minutes on the pitch.
  • Matthew Goncalves scored one, assisted three, and brought the fans to their feet with his signature silky footwork.
  • Nathan Messer added two assists and now leads the club with seven assists on the season.
  • “Super proud of the guys tonight for getting the business done and also happy to get the first hat-trick in the club’s history. It’s a win we really needed in order to keep our playoff hopes alive and I’m glad the group managed to stick to the task at hand and come up with a statement win. The vibes are good right now, but we all know what’s coming on Sunday and we’re prepared for it. An emphatic win like tonight is only a morale booster that we’re going to take into Sunday.” – Diba Nwegbo