On Saturday night in the heart of Michigan, the USL League Two Final took place between the Flint City Bucks and Vermont Green FC. Two teams iconic in their own ways.
Flint City, a four-time USL2 champion with multiple wins over Major League Soccer sides in the US Open Cup over their 30-year history. Vermont Green, the de facto amateur team of note in the United States right now, undefeated in league play over two years and constantly selling out their stadium in Burlington.
In the end, Vermont walked away the winner. A penalty kick by Ryan Zellefrow was enough to do the job in the 2-1 win as the Green repeat as champions, a game that could mean so much more than the result, even if we don't understand that significance yet.
BACK 2️⃣BACK UNDEFEATED NATIONAL. CHAMPIONS. YOUR VERMONT GREEN!
— Vermont Green FC (@vermontgreenfc.bsky.social) August 1, 2026 at 9:35 PM
[image or embed]
Vermont Green: The amateur pinnacle
So why am I telling you about a final that happened in the Midwest that was won by a team from New England? No, I am not trying to pivot New York Soccer Journal into annexing The Blazing Musket, that's Mark Radigan's job.
USL League Two is the main amateur branch of the United Soccer League system. Underneath its professional leagues — USL League One (Third Division), USL Championship (Second Division), and the soon-to-launch USL Premier (First Division) — is a summer league where young players, especially those in college, play higher-level soccer.
Since its founding in 1995, there have been plenty of players and teams that have surged in the league previously known as the Premier Developmental League. The aforementioned Bucks beat the New England Revolution in the 2000 US Open Cup in Foxborough. Players like Flemington, New Jersey's Brian White, now with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in MLS, went through the league, winning MVP in 2017 with New York Red Bulls U-23 before eventually becoming one of the top Whitecaps players.
But no other team has really done what Vermont Green has done.
Ever since its 2021 founding, the Greens have been focused on making statements, with climate justice a driving principle. From merchandise made with sustainable resources to courting sponsors who share the same values as the club, environmentalism is one of the central tenets of the organization. That includes partnerships with the highly political and highly delicious Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, or SunCommon, a Vermont-based residential solar company.
Off the field, Vermont is averaging an attendance of 2,614 in Virtue Stadium on the campus of the University of Vermont. On the field, the club is just as good. The Green have not lost a USL League Two match since July 19, 2024. A 38-game run without a loss, not including wins over professional teams in the last two US Open Cup tournaments.
The Majors Sports
The Green are a team with a goal. One off the field to protect the planet, and one on the field to win games on that planet. Vermont seems to have a professional-level front office, with a mix of players from local colleges like Portland University and players with lower-division professional experience. It's why six of their players were drafted in last year's MLS SuperDraft.
They're a juggernaut, and the sort of team people want to watch. Even when the team struggled, they were pulling in over 2,000 fans a game. Now, as double champions, they're going to get even bigger.
Late penalty breaks deadlock
Atwood Stadium, a historic venue in Flint with nearly a century of history, welcomed 6,926 fans for this year's final. A quiet first half played out with no goals for either team as rain picked up.
Both sides came into the match with expectations. The hosts Flint City finished the season top of the Great Lakes Division with a record of 10 wins, one draw, and one loss. A playoff run with three shutouts, bolstered by a man in goal who helped the team win its first title in 2006. Goalkeeper Steven Clark, a former Major League Soccer keeper with teams such as the Columbus Crew, Portland Timbers, and Houston Dynamo, returned to his amateur roots after retiring from pro soccer in 2025.
Clark's hands helped keep the game scoreless as the Green attacked late in the half. The Green scored 64 goals in their Northeast Division winning regular season run, finishing with 13 wins and one draw, but failed to find the back of the net. On the other side, Flint were disciplined and patient, but unable to truly test the visitor's backline.
In the second half, the goals started coming. In the 62nd minute, Vermont right-winger Diego Rosas attacked down that right side. The former Houston Dynamo 2 player sent a floater toward the back post, where Flint captain Ellis Jones accidentally sent his clearance into the back of the net past Clark to give Vermont the 1-0 lead.
⚡️ @VermontGreenFC STRIKES FIRST! pic.twitter.com/3VXgK5eum0
— USL League Two (@USLLeagueTwo) August 2, 2026
The lead was short-lived. In the 64th minute, on the ensuing possession, a Bucks free kick found Jones's head, who directed it towards Matthew Paiva. The defender, who played in the 2025 Canadian Championship with amateur side Scrosoppi FC, headed the ball home past Vermont goalkeeper Seth Wilson to tie the game at 1-1.
Flint City Bucks [1] - 1 Vermont Green - USL League Two Final
— Man Incognito (@sjbrewer.bsky.social) August 2, 2026 at 4:52 AM
[image or embed]
In the end, Clark closed the door on his team's hopes. The man who was named Championship game MVP in 2006 was forced off his line in the 75th minute as he chased a long ball alongside an oncoming David Ajagbe. The University of Portland forward headed the ball ahead, as Clark tackled him down in the box while trying the get ball. Clark was shown a yellow and Vermont was given a penalty kick.
Up stepped Ryan Zellefrow to take the spot kick. The University of North Carolina forward, who's played on Portland Timbers 2 and Philadelphia Union 2 in NEXT Pro, tucked the ball inside the left post just past a diving Clark to give Vermont Green the 2-1 lead in the 76th minute.
RYAN ZELLEFROW IS THAT GUY 🥶@VermontGreenFC retakes the lead! pic.twitter.com/LrCZUMjAI0
— USL League Two (@USLLeagueTwo) August 2, 2026
The Bucks fought for another equalizer, throwing as much as they could toward Wilson and the Green defense, but couldn't do it before the final whistle.
Tavio Palazzolo
Great night for non-pro soccer
When Vermont Green hosted Ballard FC in the 2025 USL2 Final at Virtue Field, the 2,500-seat stadium sold out in 60 seconds, and eventually fit close 5,000 fans into its confines.
Last weekend's match drew nearly 7,000 fans in the rain.
For Vermont, the glory is easy to understand. Winning once is tough, winning twice is even more brutal. There's a reason why no team has won the USL2 title back-to-back since the Cape Cod Crusaders back in the PDL days of 2002 and 2003.
“It’s probably the most emotional I’ve been at the final whistle. To do it a second year in a row…last year was magical, this is incredible. I’m just beaming with pride. It takes so many people to win this, not just players, there’s so many staff, so many volunteers, part-time people, the community, the fan base coming to Flint. We’ve been on the road for what feels like forever, so I couldn’t be prouder of our entire club and an entire community to achieve this.” — Vermont Green head coach Chris Taylor
For amateur soccer as a whole, the night could probably mean a whole lot more.
The USL is planning on launching a new first division in 2028 with USL Premier, and eventually launching promotion and relegation between its three levels on the pyramid. That does not include USL League Two, and honestly, that's fine. Vermont Green has openly noted going professional would increase their carbon footprint, and probably costs, way above where they want them to be.
Instead, as the amateur game continues to grow, it can become something more practical and beneficial to the overall soccer scene. More independent teams with community outreach in areas that are underserved. Places like Burlington, Vermont, Flint, Michigan, or Laredo, Texas where Vermont won their semifinals. Places that might not be ready for professional soccer teams (yet), or ones that can build from there.
Places where players can have a chance to develop in a competitive sense that is outside the Major League Soccer sphere.
In the end, Vermont continues to show what the 49th most populous state can do on the field. And off it, too.
This post is free to all readers. Consider becoming a paid subscriber to support our continued coverage.
