Clements: How Soccer is Bringing Together Vermont Like Never Before
Vermont Green is way more than just a soccer team
It’s a Friday night, July 11 to be exact. The second-place Western Mass Pioneers are taking on first-place Vermont Green in the final match of the regular season. The Pioneers can win the league with three points, otherwise, the Green will be crowned champions.
The destination for the game is Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Massachusetts, a well-over three hour drive from Burlington, Vermont. Yet, the away section is packed with supporters in flowery green jerseys, a signature of the Vermont club.
What’s more, thousands are tuned into the live stream, significantly surpassing the typical few hundred viewers for a USL 2 regular season match.
Once added time rolls around, the Green are down two goals, and it looks like the Pioneers will be division champs. But then, something special happens; something those Vermont fans who trekked all the way down to Western Mass will never forget. Club legend Zachary Zengue scores in 90+5’, followed by an absolute screamer from Owen O’Malley just a few moments later.
The Green have done the unthinkable and equalized. The away section explodes, and once the final whistle blows, the celebrations go on and on. For the first time in their history, Vermont Green FC are Northeast Division champs.
What the team may or may not have realized that night was that not only were they making history on the pitch, they were bringing together a clan of passionate Vermonters. They hadn’t just won a soccer match, they had brightened their community. That night, it became clear that Vermont Green wasn’t just winning games, they were changing the Green Mountain State.
Virtue Vibes
Part of what makes Vermont Green so special is their community of passionate followers. And on summer nights every year from May to July, those followers gather in force at Virtue Field.
Virtue is the home for the University of Vermont’s men’s and women’s soccer teams. But Vermont Green takes it over every summer and makes it their own fortress.
The stadium experience is pretty much non-existent in USL League 2. Most teams play at small college stadiums, or even high school fields. You can get into most games for free and attendance is never remarkable. Vermont Green games, however, are a complete exception.
This summer, games at Virtue have been continuously selling out, faster and faster. Following three sell-outs to close the regular season, the Green sold out tickets for the first two rounds of playoffs in less than four minutes, and then proceeded to sell out the Eastern Conference championship in less than a whopping 30 seconds. The Vermont Green experience is in high demand, and tickets are a hot commodity.
The Green Mountain Bhoys are the Vermont Green supporters group who make their voice heard loud and proud for the full 90 minutes at every home game. Dare I say they’re the most passionate, well-represented, and enthusiastic supporters in all of New England soccer, cheering on a team four professional tiers below the New England Revolution. Of their many traditions and chants, my personal favorite is when the Green Mountain Boys all take their shoes off mid match, yelling “shoes off for your boys in green”. There’s just something special about the atmosphere.
The games are like a community gathering. Families bring their children for a fun summer night out. Food trucks from local restaurants pack the perimeter of the stadium. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders makes an occasional appearance. Most times, Ben and Jerry’s even gives out free ice cream.
Vermont Green FC matches at Virtue Field are so much more than just a game, they’re a true Vermont experience.
Making a Difference
Another special part about Vermont Green is the difference they’re making off the field.
For one, we’re talking about an organization that prides themselves on environmental justice. In a world where climate change is overlooked far too often, Vermont Green refuses to be a bystander.
The Green make it clear in their mission statement that they intend to become a net zero club, tracking their greenhouse gas emissions and working to negate them overtime. Additionally, they donate one percent of their annual profits to non-profits working towards the environment while rocking super stylish kits produced with recyclable materials. The club continuously uses their growing platform to promote environmental justice, and was recently recognized by the New York Times for their hard work.
On another note, Vermont Green is actively committed to growing the women's game. Over the past two seasons, the club has put together a women's side that has participated in friendly matches at Virtue Field. USWNT legend and Vermont resident Sam Mewis has served as Head Coach.
After their debut in 2024, the Vermont Green women had an even bigger and better 2025. The team won both of their friendly matches in front of two sold-out crowds at Virtue Field. Through those two matches, Vermont Green was able to display top quality talent in a fantastic atmosphere, advocating for the growth of women's soccer on the big stage in not only Vermont, but across the country.
The club has stated that they are actively investigating the possibility of adding a season-long women's team.
What’s Next?
So the question is, what’s next for Vermont Green as they continue on their journey?
Well, the immediate answer is the USL 2 Eastern Conference Finals. This Friday, the Green host Lionsbridge FC from Newport News, Virginia with the Eastern Conference trophy on the line. Vermont is now entering uncharted territory, with this being the club's deepest playoff run in their history. But after scoring three unanswered goals to come back from 2-0 down in last Sunday’s Round of 16 match against FC Motown, the Green will be coming in with some momentum.
This has been a magical season for Vermont up to this point, featuring an undefeated regular season, the club's first ever Northeast Division banner, and a thrilling playoff run hosted on home soil. And yet, the future for the club is even more exciting, with endless opportunities and unlimited potential.
The club recently hinted at the possibility of either expanding Virtue Field’s capacity or constructing their own soccer specific stadium. This would be a massive step forward for the club, taking their already awesome atmosphere at home matches to an even higher level.
“As wonderful as Virtue Field is, 2,500 seats is no longer enough for what has proven to be a soccer-obsessed state,” wrote Vermont Green FC ownership in a recent message to its fans. “Whether we attempt to expand Virtue alongside the University, or earnestly begin the search for our own accessible, community-oriented, environmentally-conscious soccer-specific stadium, this offseason will entail many hours considering our next steps.”
Along with that comes the question of whether Vermont Green will move up the ranks of American professional soccer, with USL League 1 being a foreseeable next step. In their short history as a club, Vermont Green has had significant success at the USL 2 level, while boasting a fan base typical of a much higher level team. While there’s no guarantee that a move like this could be coming anytime soon, it’s definitely something to keep an eye on, especially if the Green continue to win like they have been.
One thing that is for certain is that soccer in Vermont is on the rise. Just this past year, the University of Vermont men’s soccer team won the Division 1 championship, claiming the first non-skiing Division 1 title in school history. This was a huge moment for not only the team and the school, but also the entire state of Vermont, who bonded together over 28 college kids and celebrated their win like a Super Bowl victory. Just like Vermont Green has been doing for the past couple summers, the UVM men’s team took massive strides in helping grow the beautiful game in the Green Mountain State.
Whatever comes next for this club, there’s no doubt that they will continue to make an impact on their community. In a state without a professional sports franchise, Vermont Green FC will continue to rally together Vermonters in a special way that only sports can do, while striving to make the world a better place. In today's world, we need more business models like that of the Burlington-based, one-of-a-kind soccer club that is Vermont Green.