This story was updated at 10:38 p.m.
Vermont Green Football Club’s magical season will continue next week in the USL League Two national championship after a 4-2 penalty kick shootout victory over Dothan United Sunday night.
Owen O’Malley netted the Green’s fourth goal in the shootout, punching the club’s ticket to the national championship next Saturday — and sending the sold-out crowd at the University of Vermont’s Virtue Field into a raucous celebration.
“I do it for the fans, man, you know?” O’Malley said. “I just love these guys so much.”
Goalkeeper Niklas Herceg made two dramatic saves in the shootout to help secure the win.
“The reaction (to me) saving the penalties was incredible. It gives you more energy to maybe save the next one again,” Herceg said.
The Green and Alabama-based Dothan battled through an evenly matched, scoreless 90 minutes in regulation. Vermont Green seemed to have the edge in the two 15-minute extra time halves. But despite a few chances, Vermont couldn’t find the back of the net.
“At the end of the day, we deserved to win,” said Vermont Green FC Head Coach Chris Taylor.
The 2025 season has been the club’s highest-achieving by far, with a 16-match undefeated record, a first-place finish in the northeast division, and an ongoing deep run into the playoffs. In 2024, the Green placed third in its division and won two playoff matches, but were ultimately knocked out by the nationally top-ranked Seacoast United of New Hampshire.
This year, the club will play for the national title — and for the growing fanbase in Vermont.
“These boys, they’re special,” Taylor said. “It’s a humbling experience, I would say, for me to see a community like this support our team.”
Theo Wells-Spackman contributed reporting for this story.
