Wednesday saw Vermont Green FC pick up an additional three points as it secured a 2-1 win over Black Rock FC.
The Green started Seth Wilson in net behind the backline of Nikos Clarke-Tosczak, Sebastian Pop, Brandon Marshall, and Aidan Godinho. Tyler Caton and Nicolas Loebus made up the midfield while Connor Miller played as a No.10. Sampson Kpardeh and Diego Rosas were on the wings while Jeremy Francou was the lone striker up top.
It was a cagey affair to start but Vermont nearly scored off of a set piece but Black Rock FC's goalkeeper made the save and jumpstarted the attack with a long ball forward. It was slightly misjudged by Clarke-Tosczak who was forced to head the ball to Wilson to stop a goal scoring chance and collided with a Black Rock player in the process.
Around the 10th minute, Black Rock FC amplified its attack and had Vermont Green under pressure. But Vermont would respond with some solid spells of possession and entry into the final third.
The breakthrough for Vermont came in the 41st minute. Kpardeh sent a corner kick floating into the box and a bouncing ball found Godinho who tapped it home. Black Rock FC tried to level before half but after 45 minutes the Green held a 1-0 lead.
The opening minutes of the second half were back-and-forth as both sides looked to breakthrough the backline and add a goal to their tally. Loebus launched a shot in the 51st minute that was parried away by Black Rock's goalkeeper.
Vermont would be the one to add a goal. Miller created a turnover in the midfield and played Rosas into space. The winger then curled his shot into the back of the net to give Vermont a 2-0 lead in the 54th minute.
After the goal, Arnold Matshazi and Joseph Picotto entered the match, for Francou and Miller in the 56th minute. It was Picotto’s first appearance of the 2026 season. Black Rock soon after stormed down the pitch, forcing Wilson to make a diving save in the 57th minute.
Soon after, the home side did the same thing and this time Wilson wasn't as lucky. Black Rock forced a turnover in the midfield and Vermont failed to deal with the attack well and Said El Eyssami headed the ball past Wilson in the 59th minute.
Black Rock continued to apply the pressure and were pushing to tie the game. Kpardeh responded by driving down the wing but his shot was snatched up by Black Rock's goalkeeper in the 62nd minute.
Ryan Zellefrow and Andrew Millar entered the match in the 69th minute as they replaced Caton and Kpardeh. Halim Bangura and Riley Moloney were the final changes as they replaced Godinho and Rosas in the 77th minute.
The rest of the match was a professional approach from Vermont to close out the game. The Green now head south to play Hickory FC in the Steinbrecher Cup semifinal on Saturday.
