Vermont
Vermont soccer learns opponent, site for 2024 NCAA Tournament
Vermont soccer: 2024 America East championship celebration
Vermont men’s soccer defeats Bryant 2-1 in Sunday’s America East title game at soldout Virtue Field.
Vermont men’s soccer will be home to begin its NCAA Tournament journey for a fourth straight season.
The America East Conference champion Catamounts (11-2-5) drew the Iona Gaels (11-4-3) in a first-round matchup slated for Thursday night at Virtue Field. Game time is set for 6 p.m., and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Vermont will play in the NCAA Tournament for the 14th time in its history, fourth in a row and sixth since 2015. Vermont booked its spot this fall with Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Bryant in the America East title game, its seventh league tourney championship.
[See below story for full NCAA Tournament bracket.]
Vermont and Iona have faced off four times previously. The most recent matchups are: A 3-1 Gaels win in 2019; a 2-0 Catamounts triumph in 2021. Vermont and Iona had three common opponents in 2024: Vermont defeated Fairfield and Bryant and tied Binghamton, while Iona lost to Bryant and Binghamton and drew with Fairfield.
Last year, Vermont cruised past Rider in a first-round game at Virtue Field. Vermont then beat Central Florida before losing to West Virginia in the Round of 16. Two years ago, the Catamounts advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1989, a run that started with an overtime victory at home over Quinnipiac.
Eighth-year UVM coach Rob Dow owns a program-record five NCAA Tournament victories.
The Catamounts have gone 7-1-1 over their last nine games and boast an unbeaten mark at Virtue Field (7-0-4). Yaniv Bazini and Maximilian Kissel, who scored the game-winner Sunday, pace Vermont with eigh goals each. Sydney Wathuta’s 12 assists rank second nationally and goalie Niklas Herceg sports a .79 goals-against average with a .810 save percentage.
The Gaels captured the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference crown on Sunday at home, dethroning Rider in a 1-0 overtime victory for the program’s second berth to the NCAA tourney.
The Vermont-Iona winner advances to play at Hofstra on Sunday afternoon for a second-round tilt.
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
Vermont
Here are five places to ice skate in Vermont this winter
How to see a reindeer in Vermont
Vermont Reindeer Farm in West Charleston is home to the only three reindeer, or caribou, living in the state. Here’s what it’s like to visit them.
Looking for ways to enjoy the rest of the cold New England winter?
While staying indoors often seems better than facing the cold, the region has lots of outdoor activities that brighten the winter season, including skiing, snow tubing and, of course, ice skating. From Burlington to Stratton, Vermont has plenty of indoor and outdoor ice rinks, many of which offer lessons, concessions and special events in addition to ice skating.
Here are five places in Vermont where you can go ice skating this winter.
Spruce Peak Village Ice Rink
This outdoor ice rink is located in the heart of the village at Spruce Peak, a ski resort in Stowe formerly known as Stowe Mountain Lodge.
Guests can skate daily surrounded by the majestic ski slopes of the Green Mountains. On Friday nights, the Spruce Peak Village ice rink hosts glow skate parties with a light show, glow sticks and a live DJ. Skate rentals and lessons are also available for purchase.
When: Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday or noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: Spruce Peak, 7412 Mountain Road, Stowe
Ice Haus Arena
Located up at Jay Peak Resort near the Canadian border, Ice Haus Arena is the newest ice-skating arena in the state. The indoor rink is complete with bleacher seating, a rental and repair shop, four locker rooms, a pro shop, a snack bar and of course, an NHL-sized rink where guests can participate in public skating or skating with sticks and pucks.
General admission to the rink is $6, with skate rentals available for $6, skate sharpening available for $7 and helmets available for $3.
When: Online schedule updated daily
Where: Jay Peak Resort, 830 Jay Peak Road, Jay
C. Douglas Cairns Recreation Arena
This indoor arena has not one, but two NHL-size ice rinks for hockey, public skating and stick and puck practices. Off the ice, Cairns Arena also offers a pro shop and a cafe with hot food, snacks and drinks.
Skating at Cairns costs $5 for adults or $3 for children and seniors, and skates are available to rent for an additional $5.
When: 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Thursday, with exceptions. Check the online schedule at cairnsarena.finnlyconnect.com..
Where: 600 Swift St., South Burlington
Mill House at Stratton Mountain Resort
Surrounded by the scenic Stratton Mountain Resort, Mill House Pond is the perfect outdoor spot for public ice skating or skating lessons.
Public skating costs $20, and bookings can be made online.
When: Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday or noon to 6 p.m. Thursday-Friday and Sunday-Monday
Where: Stratton Mountain Resort, 5 Village Lodge Road, Stratton Mountain
Riley Rink at Hunter Park
A large indoor sports facility, Northshore Civic Center has an Olympic-sized ice rink, along with a concession stand and retail shop. The rink offers public skating, stick and puck practice, hockey and skating lessons.
When: Check the online schedule for weekly updates
Where: 410 Hunter Park Road, Manchester Center
Vermont
Unemployment claims in Vermont increased last week
Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Vermont rose last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday.
New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, increased to 375 in the week ending February 21, up from 357 the week before, the Labor Department said.
U.S. unemployment claims rose to 212,000 last week, up 4,000 claims from 208,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Rhode Island saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 132.0%. Michigan, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 49.9%.
USA TODAY Co. is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s weekly unemployment insurance claims report.
Vermont
Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Thursday, Feb. 26
The 2025-2026 Vermont high school winter season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from basketball, hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, Nordic/Alpine skiing and other winter sports.
TO REPORT SCORES
Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.
▶ Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
▶ Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
THURSDAY’S H.S. GAMES (REGULAR SEASON)
Boys basketball
Games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Peoples at North Country, 6:30 p.m.
Northfield at Stowe
Hazen at U-32
Oxbow at BFA-Fairfax
Winooski at Middlebury
Watch Vermont high school games on NFHS Network
Mount Mansfield at South Burlington
Essex at St. Johnsbury
BFA-St. Albans at Colchester
Lamoille at Spaulding
Lyndon at Harwood
Williamstown at Twinfield/Cabot
Rice at Champlain Valley
Randolph at Montpelier
Lake Region at Thetford
(Subject to change)
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