2024 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game

The NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament, sometimes known as the College Cup, is an American intercollegiate soccer tournament conducted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and determines the Division I men's national champion. The tournament has been formally held since 1959, when it was an eight-team tournament. Since then, the tournament has expanded to 48 teams, where every Division I conference tournament champion is allocated a berth.

The Vermont men's soccer team had a highly successful 2024 season, finishing with a strong overall record of 16-2-6 and a conference mark of 4-1-2, highlighted by an unbeaten home campaign (8-0-4). The season began with a challenging 3-1 loss at Western Michigan, but the team quickly rebounded with key road victories over San Diego State (1-0) and Lehigh (3-2). At Virtue Field, Vermont demonstrated their strength with dominant 5-0 wins against Fairfield and Harvard, as well as hard-fought draws against New Hampshire (1-1) and UMass (2-2). A 4-1 win at UAlbany and a narrow 1-0 victory over UConn further showcased their resilience, while a late-season 1-0 loss at UMBC served as one of the few setbacks in an otherwise consistent campaign.

In the postseason, Vermont raised their level of play significantly. They secured the America East title with consecutive 2-1 wins over #3 UMBC and Bryant. In the NCAA Tournament, Vermont displayed a combination of offensive firepower and defensive tenacity, routing Iona 5-0 and earning gritty road wins over Hofstra (2-1) and San Diego (1-0). A standout performance came in the quarterfinals, where the team delivered a convincing 2-0 victory over Pittsburgh to reach the College Cup for the first time in program history. In the semifinals, Vermont battled Denver to a 1-1 draw before advancing to the championship game by winning on penalties, where they capped their remarkable season.

Offensively, Vermont’s success was driven by standout contributions from key players. Yaniv Bazini led the team with 14 goals, 2 assists, and 30 points across 24 matches, with 79 total shots and 3 game-winning goals highlighting his importance. Maximilian Kissel was another critical piece of the attack, scoring 11 goals on just 27 shots for an efficient 40.7% shooting percentage while adding 2 assists and a team-high 6 game-winning goals. Sydney Wathuta was a creative force, leading the team with 14 assists and contributing 16 total points. Max Murray (4 goals, 4 assists) and Marcell Papp (5 goals, 1 assist) added depth to the offense, while David Ismail and Zach Barrett combined for 4 goals and 10 assists to round out the team’s balanced attack. This collective effort was instrumental in propelling Vermont to one of the most successful seasons in its history.

Marshall University's men's soccer team delivered a strong 2024 season, finishing with a 15-2-7 overall record and going unbeaten in Sun Belt Conference play with a 4-0-5 mark. The team was particularly dominant at home, finishing with an 11-0-3 record in Huntington, W.Va. Their season began with a 3-0 win over Cal State Fullerton and included notable victories over Loyola (Md.) (6-1), High Point (2-0), and South Carolina (2-1). Marshall also secured valuable results against ranked opponents, such as a 1-0 victory over #22 VCU and a 2-2 draw with #10 James Madison.

Throughout the conference schedule, the team consistently earned results, including key draws with Coastal Carolina (0-0) and Kentucky (1-1). In the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, Marshall advanced with wins over Old Dominion (3-2) and James Madison (1-0) before a 0-0 draw against #10 WVU in the final, where they fell short in penalties.

In the NCAA Tournament, Marshall showcased both depth and resolve. A 4-0 win over Furman and a 2-1 victory against NC State set the stage for a tightly contested 3-2 win on the road at #12 SMU. The team advanced to the College Cup, where they earned a 1-0 win over top-seeded Ohio State in the national semifinals at WakeMed Soccer Park, concluding their season with a deep postseason run.

Marshall's offense in 2024 was spearheaded by Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos, who played in 24 matches, starting 23, and led the team with 15 goals and 5 assists for 35 points. His efficiency in front of goal was evident with a 25.9% shooting accuracy, and he contributed 6 game-winning goals, underscoring his importance in critical moments. Marco Silva emerged as a reliable secondary scorer, netting 5 goals on just 18 shots for an impressive 27.8% shooting percentage and maintaining a team-high 72.2% shots-on-goal rate.

The team's playmaking duties were spread across several contributors, with Tarik Pannholzer leading in assists (5) alongside his 3 goals, while Alexander Stjernegaard and Loic Sany Kong added 4 and 3 assists, respectively. Rai Pinto and Pablo Simon each scored 4 goals, demonstrating a balanced offensive approach, with Pinto notably converting all three of his penalty kick opportunities. Contributions also came from depth players like Aymane Sordo, who added 3 goals, and Joao Roberto, who scored twice off the bench.

This collective offensive effort, highlighted by Rodrigues dos Santos' prolific scoring and a well-rounded supporting cast, was key to Marshall’s success throughout their season and deep postseason run.