Vermont Green FC opened the 2026 USL2 season with a 2-0 win over twin state rivals Seacoast United Phantoms. The Green were patient and professional, grinding out a win with goals from debutant Arnold Matshazi and Martin Bakken.
Chris Taylor deployed a starting XI with several new faces. Ryan Carney started in goal, with Brandon Marshall and Nick McHenry paired at centerback. Nikos Clarke-Tosczak and Trym Linberg started at left back and right back respectively. In the center of the park, Taylor paired Brendan Lambe and Halim Bangura. Connor Miller started at the 10, flanked by Marco Dos Santos and Diego Rosas. Matshazi was called upon to lead the line at center forward.
The Vermonters were in control of the match from the first kick to the final whistle, but the first three points of the season did not come without stiff resistance.
Despite flashes of quality all over the pitch, the Vermonters couldn’t quite unlock the Seacoast defense. Several shots in and around the area were blocked, and the first half ended scoreless.
After the break, Seacoast looked to be playing for the draw, sitting deep and attempting to catch Vermont on the counter. But captain Brandon Marshall and his new centerback partner Nick McHenry were quick to snuff out any counterattacking threat as the Green patiently hunted for their opening goal.
In the 55th minute, Diego Rosas sent a beautiful curling shot past Cameron Hall’s outstretched hand, but a Seacoast defender was on the line to head it away, neutralizing what would surely have been a goal-of-the-week candidate.
Rosas would get redemption just moments later. In the 61st minute, the winger stood over a free kick on his left side about 30 yards out. His delivery was precise, finding the foot of Arnold Matshazi, who popped the ball past Hall and into the back of the net.
Taylor made some changes after the goal. Bangura, Miller, and Matshazi made way for Aidan Godinho, Efe Aror, and Martin Bakken.
The Phantoms saw yellow four times, and referee Luis Reis even threatened to reach for his red card after Seacoast’s Reed Cash talked back to the experienced official.
In stoppage time, the Boys in Green delivered a dagger for insurance. New man Aidan Godinho bullied his way through the back line and found himself one-on-one with Hall. The CF Montreal draftee was taken down by Hall in what surely would have been a penalty if the ball didn’t fall to the crashing Martin Bakken, who finished calmly into an empty net.
The whistle blew shortly after the goal, and Vermont Green claimed its first three points of the new campaign.
- The matchup featured the last two USL2 National Champions (Seacoast in 2024, Vermont Green in 2025).
- Vermont Green are perfect in USL2 season openers (5-0-0) with zero goals allowed. All five matches have been away from home.
- The Green debuted a league-issued ‘USL2 Champions’ patch on the sleeve of their kits.
- The Green have yet to concede in 2026. Three matches, three clean sheets.
- Eight players made their Vermont Green debut (Carney, Linberg, McHenry, Bangura, Rosas, Matshazi, Aror, Godinho).
- Arnold Matshazi became the thirteenth player to bag a debut goal, joining Bjørgolfsson, Nwegbo, Ashford, Tellez, Lerech, Zengue, Bazini, Lockermann, Labovitz, Trimnal, Njike, and Ismail.
- Seacoast goalkeeper Cameron Hall may be familiar to Vermont Green fans. He has played for three Northeast Division teams: Boston City, Western Mass Pioneers, and now Seacoast United.
- Nash Barlow of Burlington, VT and Bio Levitt of Calais, VT were unused subs for the Green.
LINEUPS
Vermont Green FC — Ryan Carney, Trym Linberg, Brandon Marshall, Nick McHenry, Nikos Clarke-Tosczak, Halim Bangura (Efe Aror 61′), Brendan Lambe, Connor Miller (Aidan Godinho 75′), Marco Dos Santos, Diego Rosas, Arnold Matshazi (Martin Bakken 75′).
Unused Subs — Brio Levitt, Sebastian Pop, Nash Barlow. Head Coach — Chris Taylor.
Seacoast United — Cameron Hall, Reed Cash, Aidan Sheppela, Emmett Shea (Cedrick Isho 62′), Louis Crofts, Danny Dokov (Jack Kehoe 75′), Eduard Fandunyan (Elias Novina 62′), Nicolas Juliano (Cedrick Isho 62′), Lincoln Cross (Brady Lewis 75′), Sergios Feneridis, Luc Haller.
Unused Subs — Quinn Phillips, Alejo Caceres, Tyler Kraft, Brady Elmblad. Head Coach — Drou Goff.
Referees: Luis Reis (R), Vladimir Pamphil (AR1), Kobi Lane (AR2), Daniel Smolenski (4th)
Weather: Sunny (finally), 75°F
Attendance: 125
SCORING SUMMARY
VGFC: ⚽️ Arnold Matshazi — 61′ (assisted by Diego Rosas), ⚽️ Martin Bakken — 90′ (assisted by Aidan Godinho).
SCU: No goals.
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
VGFC: No cards.
SCU: 🟨 Danny Dokov 34′, 🟨 Emmett Shea 59′, 🟨 Reed Cash 69′, 🟨 Aidan Sheppela 90′
POST-MATCH QUOTES
“It was a phenomenal feeling putting the Green back on, especially as reigning champions. It was a great team performance and good to get the clean sheet and win. As always though, we’ll be back to work and ready for Tuesday. Up the Green!” — #8 Brendan Lambe
NEXT MATCH
The Boys in Green will continue their road trip to open the USL2 season on Tuesday, May 19 when they head to Waltham, MA to take on the Boston Bolts.
Photo Credit: Ansel Casper