Reports suggest the men arrive with a fast start behind them, opening 2-0 and scoring six goals across their first two matches. That matters, but the bigger story is familiarity.
Chris Taylor is back as head coach, and much of the spine appears to remain intact. Brandon Marshall has reportedly taken the captaincy, while returners such as David Ajagbe, Alex Hall and Gabriel Fernandez give Vermont a base of shared understanding. Add players with recent UVM pedigree, including Ryan Zellefrow and Niklas Herceg, and the squad looks built to avoid the usual early-season churn.
The challenge is mental as much as tactical. Defending champions rarely surprise anyone. Every opponent treats them as the standard.
The women’s team appear to be at the opposite end of the cycle. Reports say their first USL W outing finished 0-0 against Hartford Athletic, which is not a bad starting point for a new group under Abby Carchio.
A clean sheet hints at organisation. The next step is chance creation.
The squad reportedly draws from strong college programs, with local ties running through it as well. That mix should give Vermont enough quality, but balance does not arrive automatically. Home matches often reveal whether a team can dictate tempo rather than simply manage it.
For the men, the key question is whether continuity can hold up once the pressure of a repeat push settles in. For the women, it is whether a solid platform can become a more assertive attacking identity. By the end of the weekend, Vermont Green should have a clearer read on both - and so will everyone else.