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Following Syracuse’s 2-0 upset of then-No. 25 SMU on Oct. 11, Carlos Zambrano jogged to the sideline for a postgame interview. He’d just scored his fourth goal of the season to boost SU’s winning streak to four — the program’s longest streak since 2022.

Zambrano couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear as he pulled the headset on.

“This team has been doubted since the beginning, and this is (just) the start,” Zambrano told ACC Network postgame.

Before transferring to Syracuse from Daytona State in 2024,, the Miami, native spent the previous summer with the United Soccer League Two’s Vermont Green FC. Competing alongside Division I talent from across the country, the experience eased his transition from junior college to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Although he played sparingly, the Green helped mold Zambrano into a dynamic midfielder for the Orange as a senior. Through 13 games, his four goals and nine points both lead the Orange — highlighted by his hat trick against Colgate on Sept. 23.

“I needed that to set me back so I could come back stronger for Syracuse,” Zambrano said of his time in Vermont. “I never took it as a punishment. I took it more as fuel for me.”

Zoey Grimes | Design Editor

When he first arrived at the University of Vermont’s campus — which serves as the Green’s home during the summer — the usually outspoken Zambrano was overwhelmed. Luckily, he had some familiar faces to help him adjust.

Fellow SU transfers Ernest Bawa, Sam Layton and Gabe Threadgold and goalkeeper Jahiem Wickham were also informed by an SU assistant coach that they were invited to the squad. Zambrano even carpooled with Layton to make the lengthy drive to Vermont from SU more manageable. Zambrano said he’ll never forget getting in extra reps with his future teammates that summer.

He remained close with his SU teammates but soon made new connections at practice and during gym workouts. Days after arriving, Zambrano quickly became friends with Ayoub Lajhar — then a rising sophomore from UConn. With only one season of college experience under his belt, Lajhar often turned to Zambrano, a two-year junior college veteran, for advice.

Due to the competitive nature of the USL Two, Zambrano rarely started games for Vermont. Every team’s best players were usually rentals, meaning they only stayed for a limited time before returning to their colleges. As a result, the lineup was consistent to squeeze everything he could out of his top talent, leaving Zambrano as a substitute.

“In a way we were competing, but we were also just making each other better,” former Green midfielder Zach Zengue said of his relationship with Zambrano. “Some people will take that the wrong way. If they see someone that they’re competing with, they won’t like them, but we both took it in a way where we respected each other.”

When he did see the field, Zambrano was forced to abandon his usual role as a central attacking midfielder. Due to Vermont Green’s overflow of midfielders, he served as a striker. Still, he made his minutes count.

In his fifth appearance, Zambrano notched his first goal when Green beat AC Connecticut 7-0. The tally earned him a spot in the starting lineup for the team’s next outing against Juba Star FC in a friendly, where he played alongside Lujhar for the first time.

“I looked at Carlos and I said, ‘Today’s the day we both prove ourselves, and show ourselves that we deserve to be on this field,’” Lajhar said. “(Then) I told him that one of us was going to score.”

During SU’s game against then-No. 25 SMU, Carlos Zambrano scans the field in front of him. Zambrano’s second-half goal against the Mustangs padded the Orange’s lead in their eventual 2-0 win. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor

Lujhar’s prediction rang true. One minute into the second half, the duo connected. With possession at the left side of the box, Zambrano maneuvered around three defenders before dumping the ball off to Lujhar, who fired a screamer into the top right corner of the goal — solidifying a 4-0 win.

But from there, Zambrano’s appearances became few and far between. After playing in each of the team’s first six matches, he only saw the pitch three more times the rest of the summer.

As his time on the field dwindled, Zambrano’s frustration grew. After practices, he asked teammates to stay and work on their finishes. When he returned to his hotel, Zambrano regularly went to the downstairs gym alone for workouts before bed.

“That whole summer was about keeping my head down and working to get the opportunity (to play) and just enjoying the time I got, because I didn’t know if I would be going back there,” Zambrano said.

Though Zambrano and his closest teammates remained focused on competing for minutes, they also dedicated time to ventures away from the game.

Zambrano spent most of his free days in downtown Burlington, where he and his teammates scoped out the best food trucks in town and enjoyed ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s. Other days, the group traveled to Lake Champlain and relaxed in hammocks along the water. On rainy days, playing FIFA in the hotel room kept them entertained.

When he returned to Syracuse in the fall, Zambrano finally received the minutes he’d been looking for. Head coach Ian McIntyre gave Zambrano 12 appearances and four starts in his first season with the Orange in 2024.

Carlos Zambrano motors across midfield in Syracuse’s season opener versus UConn. After not scoring a goal in his first season with SU in 2024, he leads the team with four goals this season. Joe Zhao | Senior Staff Photographer

Zambrano returned to USL League Two the following summer but not in the same colors. If he wanted to be noticed by scouts and coaches at the highest level, he knew a change of scenery was needed. So, instead of returning to Vermont, Zambrano committed to Fort Lauderdale United FC.

The decision paid off. Zambrano notched five goals in as many games last May, which earned him Player of the Month honors. From there, he remained a staple of the club’s lineup.

That success carried over into SU’s 2025 campaign, where Zambrano is enjoying a breakout year. He even reunited with Lajhar when SU opened its campaign against UConn, though his former teammate got the last laugh.

“(In the midfield) and up front too, he’s one of the players that’s different. He has an unpredictability to him.” McIntyre said of Zambrano. “He has some magic in his boots, and if we can get him performing consistently, he can provide a real X-factor for us.”

Looking back on his experience with Vermont Green, Zambrano said he was thankful for the experience despite not getting the minutes he expected.

Now, he’s using the lessons he learned to fuel his breakout at SU.

Published on October 21, 2025 at 10:11 pm
Contact Matthew: mgray06@syr.edu | @ma77hew_gray