Ballard FC travels across the country to face Vermont Green FC in the USL2 National Championship on Saturday. The much-anticipated matchup will showcase two young teams that have quickly made names for themselves with their local fans and the national soccer press. It may be one of the most intriguing matches in American soccer this weekend, despite being in the lowest tier of USL play.
It’s hard to imagine a better matchup for the league or a better test for either side.
Vermont Green FC began USL2 play in 2022 and made the playoffs in their inaugural season, bowing out in the Conference Semifinals to the Long Island Rough Riders. Vermont barely missed the playoffs in their second season, but were still named the USL League Two Organization of the Year. In 2024 they made their first U.S. Open Cup appearance, knocking off USL1 side Lexington SC before falling to MLS Next Pro’s Carolina Core.
Vermont has been dominant in their 2025 campaign, going 11-0-3 to win the Northeast Division before battling their way to the Eastern Conference title and a berth in the National Championship Final. The Green enter the final on a 15-match unbeaten streak.
Off the pitch, Vermont are a very community-focused and locally engaged club with lofty aspirations and a clear mission. The Green are environmentally focused, with a commitment to becoming a net-zero-carbon organization. They are also focused on social justice for historically marginalized groups and new Americans, including refugee communities.
Ballard FC comes into Saturday’s final on a high note, despite dropping the final two matches of the regular season. They finished 9-3-2 and were equally impressive on the road as they were at Interbay Stadium.
The Bridges’ playoff run began with a 6-0 drubbing of the Colorado Storm, but they had to grind through three consecutive 2-1 victories to secure their spot in the final. The hard-fought results in the playoffs have given Ballard a lot of confidence. Their deep roster and extensive experience in big games, including their 2023 National Championship victory, should serve them well as they enter a very challenging environment in Burlington.
The final will be played at Virtue Field, located on the campus of the University of Vermont. Virtue Field officially seats 2,500 fans (at least 1,000 more fans than Interbay), but with standing room and expanded seating areas, it can expand to over 4,000. The match sold out in minutes, and it will be by far the most hostile setting Ballard have played in to date.
On paper, this is a perfect matchup for fans and the teams. Vermont Green are a little more defensively-focused than Ballard, and Ballard like to spread the ball around a bit more, but from a purely statistical standpoint, these are two of the most evenly matched teams one could imagine.
Both teams average just about 2.5 goals per match for and .5 against. They distribute their goal scoring across the halves at nearly the same rate. Vermont has the statistical edge in clean sheets (59% to 50%), which is an indicator of their defensive focus, but truly very little separates these sides on the stat sheet, and the match will come down to which side capitalizes on mistakes and manages to keep their composure in this high-pressure environment.
Players to Watch
Ballard FC
With a deep roster and a lot of squad rotation this season, it can be hard to come up with just a few players to emphasize going into the final, but there are three that standout.
No. 2 Christian Engmann: Engmann has been a standout defender all season. He wins his battles on the ground and in the air, plays out of the back very well, and gets forward on build ups and set pieces. This is Engmann’s fourth season with the club, and his experience helps anchor the backline.
No. 10 Richie Aman: Aman’s play on the wing has been one of the true keys to Ballard’s success this season. He is fast and technical with the ball at his feet, and he regularly breaks down defenders to open space for very accurate crosses.
No. 14 Joe Dale: The recipient of many of Richie Aman’s passes into the box, Joe Dale is a scoring machine who, like many scoring midfielders, is excellent at finding pockets of space off the ball to get into dangerous positions.
Vermont Green FC
Vermont's roster is obviously full of talent as well, but these three players stand out and will be crucial to their efforts in the final.
No. 9 Jacob Labovitz: Labovitz has been Vermont’s primary scoring threat this season, playing with composure and consistency. He’s strong in the box, reads defenders well, and has a knack for timing his runs to create high‑quality chances. His finishing ability makes him the focal point of Vermont’s attack.
No. 7 Arnaud Tattevin: A midseason addition, Tattevin has become one of Vermont’s most dynamic players. Tattevin brings pace and technical skill on the wing, taking on defenders one-on-one and creating space for others. He can both score and assist, making him a constant danger in wide areas.
No. 5 Moussa Ndiaye: The 2025 USL League Two Defender of the Year and Vermont’s captain. Ndiaye organizes the back line, wins aerial duels, and plays calmly out of pressure. His leadership and ability to snuff out attacks are central to Vermont’s defensive strength and clean‑sheet record.
Match Details
USL League Two National Championship Final - Ballard FC vs. Vermont Green FC
Date & Time (Pacific): Saturday, August 2, 2025 – 4:00 PM PT (7:00 PM ET)
Venue: Virtue Field, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
How to Watch: Streaming on SportsEnginePlay
Watch Party: Reuben’s Brews Ballard Taproom and Reuben’s Brews Downtown 4pm.