While Vermont Green FC winning its first-ever women’s match was impressive, it wasn’t the most important result from Saturday evening.

Virtue Field was filled to the brim to watch the match, more than have ever filled the stands for a men’s match. Signs throughout read “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” “Vermont Loves Women’s Soccer” and “Women Belong In Sports.” Girls far and wide got to see a USWNT legend patrol the touchline as well as some great soccer.

But there weren’t just girls, boys were all over the stadium as well as on the pitch after the match to get autographs.

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It was so exciting,” goalkeeper Olivia Durbin said after the win. “Immediately when we were stepping out for the starting lineup I saw that sign that said ‘Everyone Watches Women’s Sports’ and that just made me smile right away. I was trying to lock in but that lifted me out of it. It's just so exciting to see so many people. I don't know 10 years ago if I would have had any little boys coming up to ask me for autographs. So just so excited to see where women's sports is at right now.”

Goalscorer Neve Renwick added that she had never signed as many autographs as she did on Saturday night, in her entire career.

If anyone can testify to the growth of the women’s game, it is Sam Mewis. The USWNT legend has witnessed the rise first-hand with the success of the national team.

After the stressful conclusion to her coaching debut, Mewis discussed the enthusiasm surrounding women’s sports in general.

“Yeah, I mean, I think you're spot on to say there is so much enthusiasm around women's sports right now, especially women's soccer,” Mewis said. “The NWSL is growing really quickly, there's another league coming, the U.S. Women's National Team is heading off to the Olympics this summer. It seems like women's soccer is in this time of explosive growth and to be able to bring a game like this, with players like this to Vermont, Vermont Green is already a really well-established club and to see them and how much they valued the women's game as well and their goals for the future of it is really inspiring. So honestly, I'm just really humbled and honored to have been a part of it.”

A lot of times fans and observers of soccer can hear the phrase that 'it is more than game’ but on Saturday the cliche rang true. The match was so much more than a game, it was a declaration of commitment to women’s soccer as well as a culmination of the hard work put in by Mewis and so many other heroes of the women’s game throughout its rapid growth.

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