CVU boys’ soccer wins 20th state title

Last year the Champlain Valley girls’ soccer team made some history, becoming the program with the most state championships after grabbing its 20th state title.

This year, the Champlain Valley boys’ soccer team joined them at the top.

The top-seeded Redhawks defeated No. 2 South Burlington on penalty kicks Sunday night at the University of Vermont’s Virtue Field to win the Division I state championship — the program’s 20th overall and first since 2019.

“It’s been four years since we won a state championship, so it’s not a very long drought or anything but it always it feels great finishing the season with a win,” CVU coach Rob Cole said. “Only one team gets to do that.”

The path to its 20th title was not without drama. After 80 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time, the two teams were tied 2-2 and headed to a shootout to decide the winner.

After the two teams traded goals through the first two rounds, there was some confusion on CVU’s third attempt. South Burlington goalkeeper Will Goyette appeared to make a save on the Redhawks’ shot attempt, but the goalie did not hold onto the ball and it trickled into the net.

The two teams traded celebrations after the attempt, with the Wolves initially thinking they had taken the lead, and then CVU realized that the two teams were still tied.

South Burlington stepped up next on its fourth attempt and hit the crossbar. That slight opening was all the Redhawks needed. Mick Menard nailed his attempt to consolidate the lead and senior captain Charlie Jennings clinched the win with his final shot.

“I know it’s kind of a cliche thing to say, but it’s always been a dream of mine,” Jennings said. “I knew one day I’d be here representing my school, my team, my family, and being in this moment just is so joyous. I’m so grateful for this moment.”

After a scoreless first half, the action picked up dramatically in the second. Less than five minutes in, South Burlington struck first. Milo Schmidt got on the end of a free kick to put the Wolves up 1-0.

Champlain Valley responded just three minutes later, when a free kick was served into the 18-yard box. Jennings got a hold of the ball and tapped it to Menard, who banged it into the back of the net for a 1-1 score.

“They came out firing and at first we weren’t, we weren’t ready, but when they scored that first goal, we knew it was game on,” Jennings said. “We gotta play, we gotta work hard, we gotta come back.”

The Redhawks took the lead with about 16 minutes remaining in regulation. After making a run down the right side, Caleb Greenslit centered the ball into the box. A quick pass from Julian

Sicotte got the ball to George Charlson, who put the shot past Goyette — who had entered the game about a minute earlier after South Burlington starting goalie Oliver Payson went out with an injury — for the 2-1 lead.

The Redhawks tried to make the goal stand up but South Burlington scored with just under three minutes remaining in regulation to tie the game.

CVU got the winner in extra time, with the Redhawks getting three quick shots on goal that Goyette and defender Romaric Mahe cleared off the line. But that was the best of the chances for either team in extra time and the two teams headed to penalty kicks.

“It’s kind of an epic game to go all 30 extra minutes and get to PKs,” Cole said, “They’re all tired and I just encouraged them to just focus and clear their minds and just try and execute one more kick. We did that well enough that we ended up winning.”

Luke Sampson, Chandler Turner, Henry Frost, Menard and Jennings each got goals in penalty kicks for the Redhawks.