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For the first time in 23 years, there is a back-to-back champion in the USL League Two.
The Vermont Green FC men's team accomplished that feat with a 2-1 road victory against the Flint City Bucks at Atwood Stadium in Flint, Michigan on Saturday, Aug. 1.
It's the Green's second straight undefeated season (18-0-1) with their last two wins coming against teams playing at home. It's another successful season for the organization that saw the debut of a women's team that advanced to the USL W final.
"As soon as I got to Vermont, I knew this place was different and the community was going to back us the entire season like they did last year," starting goalie Seth Wilson said on the USL League Two postgame show. "We owed it to them ... the win goes out to them for sure."
For players such as Brandon Marshall, Ryan Zellefrow, David Ajagbe, Joseph Picotto and Will Sawin, it's their second championship after being part of the 2025 team. Two of those players played huge roles in helping the Green earn their second star.
The 2026 USL League Two final was not the offensive explosive soccer seen from Vermont throughout the playoffs. For the first time this postseason, the Green failed to score in the first half.
Even with not a lot of strong looks, the Greens still controlled possession for much of the game, and they took advantage of their counterparts' miscues. The first bit of luck to go the Green's way came in the 62nd minute.
Diego Rosas had been the Green's top offensive player in the final, creating many corner kick opportunities. He curled a ball into the box, with no one in a green jersey nearby. Yet Bucks' player Ellis Jones kicked the ball into his own goal, giving Vermont a 1-0 lead.
"We needed a little bit of luck," Green head coach Chris Taylor said. "We were getting around the sides, but couldn't really get in the box. We kept putting good deliveries in and the ball landed and found something good there."
Flint City was able to respond two minutes later with Jones and Matthew Paiva teaming up for a beautiful header sequence tying the game up.
Yet the Green had some more luck go their way. Newly inserted, Ajagbe brought the fresh legs creating a chance seconds after coming into the game in the 73rd minute. Ajagbe was racing up the field to corral a long pass and the threat of him forced Flint City goalie Steven Clark to come out and challenge the play. Clark knocked the ball up in the air.
Ajagbe and Clark get into a slight tussle with Clark pulling down Vermont's striker. The referee handed out a yellow card to Clark and awarded the Green a penalty kick.
The former Catamount National Champion Zellefrow stepped up to the spot and drilled the penalty into the bottom left corner. Zellefrow gave Vermont the lead back in the 76th minute with his fifth goal of the playoffs. With his penalty kick heroics, Zellefrow was named USL League Two final MVP.
"A couple of deep breaths and picked my spot and just slid it home," Zellefrow said on the USL League Two postgame show.
Vermont was able to close out the game with Wilson scooping up a few loose balls as the team successfully defended a Flint City corner kick.
When the final whistle sounded after five minutes of stoppage time, the players ran to celebrate with the supporters who made the trip. The 2026 playoff run was more dominant for Vermont which saw the Green outscore opponents 21-2 in five games.
Contact Judith Altneu at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Ryan Zellefrow's penalty secures back-to-back titles for Vermont Green
Continue reading...
The Vermont Green FC men's team accomplished that feat with a 2-1 road victory against the Flint City Bucks at Atwood Stadium in Flint, Michigan on Saturday, Aug. 1.
It's the Green's second straight undefeated season (18-0-1) with their last two wins coming against teams playing at home. It's another successful season for the organization that saw the debut of a women's team that advanced to the USL W final.
"As soon as I got to Vermont, I knew this place was different and the community was going to back us the entire season like they did last year," starting goalie Seth Wilson said on the USL League Two postgame show. "We owed it to them ... the win goes out to them for sure."
For players such as Brandon Marshall, Ryan Zellefrow, David Ajagbe, Joseph Picotto and Will Sawin, it's their second championship after being part of the 2025 team. Two of those players played huge roles in helping the Green earn their second star.
The 2026 USL League Two final was not the offensive explosive soccer seen from Vermont throughout the playoffs. For the first time this postseason, the Green failed to score in the first half.
Even with not a lot of strong looks, the Greens still controlled possession for much of the game, and they took advantage of their counterparts' miscues. The first bit of luck to go the Green's way came in the 62nd minute.
Diego Rosas had been the Green's top offensive player in the final, creating many corner kick opportunities. He curled a ball into the box, with no one in a green jersey nearby. Yet Bucks' player Ellis Jones kicked the ball into his own goal, giving Vermont a 1-0 lead.
"We needed a little bit of luck," Green head coach Chris Taylor said. "We were getting around the sides, but couldn't really get in the box. We kept putting good deliveries in and the ball landed and found something good there."
Flint City was able to respond two minutes later with Jones and Matthew Paiva teaming up for a beautiful header sequence tying the game up.
Yet the Green had some more luck go their way. Newly inserted, Ajagbe brought the fresh legs creating a chance seconds after coming into the game in the 73rd minute. Ajagbe was racing up the field to corral a long pass and the threat of him forced Flint City goalie Steven Clark to come out and challenge the play. Clark knocked the ball up in the air.
Ajagbe and Clark get into a slight tussle with Clark pulling down Vermont's striker. The referee handed out a yellow card to Clark and awarded the Green a penalty kick.
The former Catamount National Champion Zellefrow stepped up to the spot and drilled the penalty into the bottom left corner. Zellefrow gave Vermont the lead back in the 76th minute with his fifth goal of the playoffs. With his penalty kick heroics, Zellefrow was named USL League Two final MVP.
"A couple of deep breaths and picked my spot and just slid it home," Zellefrow said on the USL League Two postgame show.
Vermont was able to close out the game with Wilson scooping up a few loose balls as the team successfully defended a Flint City corner kick.
When the final whistle sounded after five minutes of stoppage time, the players ran to celebrate with the supporters who made the trip. The 2026 playoff run was more dominant for Vermont which saw the Green outscore opponents 21-2 in five games.
Contact Judith Altneu at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Ryan Zellefrow's penalty secures back-to-back titles for Vermont Green
Continue reading...
