By Lexi Livesay-Nicholas
On the heels of a smashing ten-goal stunner, the Women in Green return to Virtue Field for their final home match of the 2026 USL W League regular season. On Monday night at 7pm, the Green host Hartford Athletic, their fellow unbeaten side at the top of the Northeast Division — and with a playoff berth hanging in the balance, there may be no bigger night left on the calendar.
It is a tight race at the summit as the regular season enters its final stretch. All summer, Vermont Green have matched Hartford Athletic stride for stride, and the two unbeaten rivals are now locked together at the top of the division. In the USL W League, the reward is winner-take-all: only the division champion advances to the playoffs.
WHAT’S ON THE LINE
The USL W League postseason format leaves no margin for error: only the winner of each division advances. There are no wild cards in the Northeast, and second place is the end of the road. For the Women in Green, the path to the playoffs runs through first place in the division, and nowhere else.
Here’s the wrinkle, and it’s worth understanding. The division is not ranked by total points but by points per match, because clubs have played an uneven number of games. That’s why the Green sit second despite holding more points than the teams they’re chasing: Vermont have banked 16 points from eight matches, one more than Hartford’s 15—but the Athletic have played a game fewer, and their 2.14 points per match edges Vermont’s 2.00 for top spot, for now.
By the final whistle of the season, though, every Northeast club will have played 10 matches, which means the points-per-match table and the points table will tell the same story. Win the games, and the rate takes care of itself.
That sets up a tense final stretch. The Green have two matches left: Monday against Hartford, then the regular-season finale against New England Mutiny. The Athletic have three still to play, and Hudson Valley Crusaders have a single match left to play. It is a genuine three-team picture, even if the Green and the Athletic hold the cards.
The simplest path is the one entirely in Vermont’s control: win both remaining matches, and the Women in Green are Northeast Division champions, full stop. A perfect finish would carry the Green to 22 points—a total no one else could reach, since beating Hartford on Monday caps the Athletic at 21, and Hudson Valley top out at 20. Win out, and Vermont punch their playoff ticket no matter what happens elsewhere.
That makes Monday enormous:
A win, and the Green take three points directly off their nearest rival, hold the head-to-head, and carry a commanding goal-difference edge into the finale, needing only to see off Mutiny to seal the division.
A draw, and Vermont stay right in the mix but leave the door ajar — the Athletic, with a game more to play, could still overhaul them by winning out.
A loss, and the Green would need Hartford to drop points down the stretch to keep their title hopes breathing.
The bottom line: Hartford may have the extra fixture, but Vermont hold the trump card. Win the last two, and no one can deny the Women in Green their first division crown.
HARTFORD ATHLETIC IN FOCUS
Undefeated Hartford Athletic arrive in Burlington sitting top of the Northeast Division on points per match. In seven matches, they have four wins and three draws. Their four victories have come against AC Connecticut twice, Hudson Valley Crusaders, and New England Mutiny, while two of their three draws have come against Vermont Green.
Hartford have conceded just three goals all season while scoring 16, a goal difference of plus-13 that speaks to how complete they have been at both ends. Their defense has proved difficult to break down, and their attackers are lethal in front of goal. Forward Rebecca Frisk and midfielder Diana Baffor have each found the back of the net for Hartford this summer.
After a 2-1 win over New England Mutiny on 6/15 and a week of rest, the Athletic travel to Virtue Field for the second time this season.
THE LAST TIME OUT
Monday marks the third meeting between the two clubs. The first came on opening weekend of the USLW season, a scoreless draw in Connecticut. A little under a month later, Hartford Athletic traveled to Burlington for the rematch.
One hundred minutes of football ended in another draw, this one anything but scoreless. In the 8th minute, Hartford’s Diana Baffor beat a handful of Green defenders before curling a perfectly placed shot into the bottom corner. The Green struck back in the 34th. #4 Emily Mara sent a cross through the 18-yard box, the ball evading a clutch of Hartford defenders before finding #14 Liv Grenda at the back post. Grenda made no mistake, sweeping the equalizer into the net.
The tight, physical contest ended 1-1. Each side took a point, and the Northeast Division standings stayed exactly as they were.
MONDAY NIGHT’S MISSION
With less rest but plenty of fuel in the tank after Friday night’s performance, the Women in Green are ready for whatever Hartford Athletic bring to Virtue. Head coach Abby Carchio is confident in her squad, and in The Green Way.
“I have been so proud of the work this group has put in this summer. That work is always building towards moments like tomorrow,” Carchio said. “I want the girls to reward themselves by playing as a collective and by playing with pride. We know the power that Virtue and the supporters bring — rain or shine, the objective stays the same.”
We’ve shared plenty of summer nights cheering for the Women in Green, and Monday is our last one at Virtue this regular season — with a division title and a playoff berth on the line. This is a match you don’t want to miss, Vermonters. Let’s pack Virtue. All out for the Women in Green!
