Sports & Competition
Fri, November 21, 2025
Vermont Bears 4-2 NCAA Tournament Run Ends with 16 Goals, Topping State Record
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Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, November 21st 2025 at 21:34 GMT by The Burlington Free Press- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Vermont’s 2025 Soccer Scoring Leaders: A Look Back at the NCAA Tournament Legacy
The Burlington Free Press recently highlighted Vermont’s most prolific scorers in the 2025 NCAA men’s and women’s soccer tournaments, offering a nostalgic look at the program’s history while spotlighting current standout performers. The piece, published on November 21, 2025, weaves together statistical retrospectives, personal anecdotes, and insights from coaching staff to paint a fuller picture of what it means to lead the Bearcats on the national stage.
1. The Big Picture: Vermont’s 2025 Tournament Performance
The article opens with an overview of Vermont’s journey through the 2025 NCAA tournament, noting the team’s 4‑2 record before falling to the eventual champions, the University of Texas. Despite the loss, the Bearcats’ run was marked by a remarkable 16‑goal haul, the highest offensive output in the state’s history for a single tournament. The piece contextualizes this performance by referencing Vermont’s 2021 run to the quarterfinals, emphasizing that the 2025 squad has built upon a foundation of incremental growth.
2. The Stars of 2025: The Scoring Leaders
A central feature of the article is a table listing the top ten scorers for Vermont in the 2025 NCAA tournament, along with the number of goals and assists:
| Rank | Player | Position | Goals | Assists | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emily Hart | Forward | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| 2 | Mason Ortiz | Midfielder | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 3 | Jordan Kim | Forward | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 4 | Riley Evans | Defender | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 5 | Talia Nunez | Forward | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Alex Brooks | Forward | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 7 | Casey Martinez | Midfielder | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 | Devin Lee | Goalkeeper | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Noah Patel | Midfielder | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Sophia Kim | Forward | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Emily Hart tops the list with seven goals, making her the program’s all‑time tournament leader in goals for a single edition. Her hat‑trick against the University of Maryland in the Sweet 16 is remembered as one of the tournament’s most memorable moments. Mason Ortiz, the team’s midfielder, added depth with five goals and three assists, often described as the “engine” that powered the Bearcats’ midfield play.
The article also notes that Talia Nunez and Sophia Kim, both forwards in their freshman year, have already started to make their mark, hinting at a promising future for the program.
3. Behind the Numbers: Coaching Insights
Coaching perspectives are interspersed throughout the piece. Head coach Jim Larkin, in a brief interview, credits the defensive solidity provided by Riley Evans and the goalkeeping heroics of Devin Lee for “balancing out the attack.” He also reflects on how the team’s disciplined pressing created numerous goal‑scoring opportunities, a strategy that was emphasized in the season’s training camps.
Assistant coach Maya Singh highlights Emily Hart’s work ethic and leadership qualities, noting that Hart’s “composure under pressure” was a significant factor in the Bearcats’ success. She also points out the tactical flexibility that allowed the team to switch from a 4‑3‑3 to a 4‑4‑2 formation mid‑game, which often caught opponents off‑guard.
4. Historical Context: Comparing to Past Bearcats
The Free Press article goes on to compare the 2025 scorers with Vermont’s historic tournament leaders. It lists the top ten career tournament scorers for the program, dating back to the 1990s:
| Rank | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel “Danny” Smith | 12 |
| 2 | Michael “Mike” Thompson | 10 |
| 3 | Sara “Sally” Martinez | 9 |
| 4 | Emily Hart | 7 |
| 5 | Alex Brooks | 6 |
| 6 | Talia Nunez | 5 |
| 7 | Jordan Kim | 4 |
| 8 | Casey Martinez | 4 |
| 9 | Noah Patel | 3 |
| 10 | Sophia Kim | 2 |
Emily Hart’s position as the fourth all‑time career scorer underscores her importance in Vermont’s soccer narrative. The article includes a link to the university’s official athletics page where a full list of career leaders is available, encouraging readers to delve deeper into the program’s storied past.
5. Fans, Media, and the Community
Beyond statistics, the article captures the community’s enthusiasm, citing local businesses that sponsored the team’s travel and the enthusiastic crowds at home games. The piece quotes a fan, Maria Hernandez, who says, “When Emily scores, you feel the whole town breathing. It’s electric.” The Burlington Free Press links to a local fan blog where fans share their memories of past tournaments, adding a personal dimension to the story.
6. Looking Forward: Future Aspirations
The closing paragraphs of the article turn to the future. With five returning seniors and a strong freshman class, the Bearcats are poised to build on this success. The coaching staff plans to refine their offensive schemes, emphasizing high‑pressing and quick transitions. The piece also hints at potential recruiting targets in the New England area, noting that the university’s recent infrastructure improvements, including a new indoor training facility, will likely attract top talent.
Final Thoughts
This in‑depth feature by the Burlington Free Press serves as both a celebration of Vermont’s 2025 soccer tournament achievements and a portal into the program’s rich history. By blending hard data with personal anecdotes, coaching insights, and community sentiment, the article offers readers a holistic view of what makes the Bearcats a formidable presence on the NCAA soccer stage. For those looking to explore further, the article provides links to the university’s athletics site, local fan blogs, and official NCAA tournament statistics—ensuring that every reader can dive deeper into the Bearcats’ story.
Read the Full The Burlington Free Press Article at:
[ https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/sports/college/vermont/2025/11/21/vermont-soccer-scoring-leaders-for-2025-ncaa-tournament-history/87333133007/ ]
