CARY, N.C. (WCAX) – It all comes down to the College Cup Championship game on Monday night. The NCAA men’s soccer season will wrap up at 8 p.m. with just two teams standing: the Marshall Thundering Herd, and the Vermont Catamounts.
The Cats have been very relaxed this weekend, especially at practice on Sunday. They said they’re just trying to enjoy the moment and take it all in. They know they’ve put in the work and they’re trusting that work to win the game on Monday.
It has been a run to remember for everyone, but especially for Head Coach Rob Dow. He and his wife welcomed a baby boy, Russell, into the world on Thanksgiving morning. With all the team travels, he hasn’t been home much. But he got some good news this weekend– the baby is expected to be in the building Monday night, so the whole Dow family will be on site for the biggest game of the coach’s life.
“It’s amazing, the university has made it happen. My wife is literally a warrior. Has a ton of courage, going to be really special to have our entire family, brother flew in as well. We have families from Spain, Gibraltar and Germany come in. That’s what this program is about, and we’ll make them proud,” Dow said.
Dow said someone got Russell a teddy bear and stitched a mustache onto it, of course after Dow’s post-season mustache. And one of his other sons has been tasked with taking care of that bear until Russell makes it to town.
It’s a huge opportunity for the Cats on Monday night. They’re looking to bring home the program’s first-ever national title and become just the second team at the school to earn an NCAA crown. The UVM ski team has six of those to their name, the last coming back in 2012, so it’s been a little while.
Both Alpine coach Bill Reichelt and Nordic leader Patrick Weaver were there when skiing last won a title, but some of their athletes say this soccer team is providing major inspiration. This run a great example of the amazing things Catamount athletes can achieve
“Yeah, I think it’s really cool. It’s, uh, super inspiring to, to be able to see other teams at the school, um, really competing at the highest level against all the, all the different schools in the country. And I think, uh, it’s really nice to see them, you know, kind of setting that bar high and, and having other teams strive for that,” said Mackenzie Wood, a UVM senior Alpine skier.
“Especially for me, that comes from like a completely different culture coming to college. Sports is such a, like, so different than at home. It’s really inspiring. I feel like we are a smaller team in those kind of sports and a smaller school, so I think the fact that they’re doing it is really impressive,” said Linn Hansson Liedholm, a UVM sophomore Alpine skier.
Y ou can hear more from the skiers Tuesday on Catamount Corner and, of course, we will have full coverage from Cary, North Carolina, Monday night and Tuesday.
HOW TO WATCH
You can watch the historic game on ESPN2 or the subscription service ESPN+. Check your local listings for specific channels.