From left to right; Sofia Borea, Kaylan Williams, Gaby Dorsey, Mia Neas, Brooke Murphy, Kendra Prince, and Francesca Picicci.
Photo by: UNH Athletic Communications
Neas Named Goalkeeper of the Year, Seven Total Wildcats Awarded
10/25/2017 2:05:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Seven players and the coaching staff were honored in this years America East Annual Awards
BOSTON – The America East 2017 Women's Soccer Annual Awards were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 25, with seven Wildcats receiving at least one honor, highlighted by Goalkeeper of the Year Mia Neas (Old Saybrook, Conn.) and New Hampshire winning Co-Coaching Staff of the Year.
Neas had only seen action in three games prior to her senior season, and started 16 of 17 of New Hampshire's games this season with an 11-4-1 record. She played 1467 minutes for the Wildcats, stopping 83 shots while allowing only 13 goals for a .865 save percentage and a conference-leading 0.80 goals against average. She had six shutouts on the season, tied for the conference-high. Neas was also selected to the All-Academic Team with a 3.91 GPA, and is a member of the All-Conference First Team.
The UNH coaching staff of Steve Welham, Amanda Webb, and Sammy Boateng, led the team to its fifth 11-win season in program history, the most wins in the Welham coaching era. The teams' 6-3-0 non-conference record was the best in program history, and their first non-conference winning record since 2005. This coaching staff also led the team to the program's second ever six-game winning streak, the first happened in 1988. The Wildcats have made the America East Tournament all four years of the Welham era. New Hampshire clinched the #1 seed in the America East Tournament for the first time since 2007.
Four Wildcats were named to the All-Conference First Team, more than any other team in the conference. One player was named to the All-Conference Second Team, two to the All-Rookie Team, and two were on the All-Academic team.
Senior forward Brooke Murphy (Monson, Mass.) was named to the All-Conference First Team. Murphy led the team with 22 points on 10 goals and two assists, and a team-high three game-winning goals. She broke the UNH program record for career goals and points; she currently sits at 43 goals and 97 points. Murphy started every game for the team this season.
Junior midfielder Gaby Dorsey (Hubertus, Wis.) was also selected to the All-Conference First Team, with 10 points on four goals and two assists, including two game-winning goals. Dorsey was also selected as a member of the All-Academic team with a 3.61 GPA. Dorsey also started every game for New Hampshire this year.
Senior defender Kendra Prince (Ajax, Ontario) was another Wildcat named to the All-Conference First Team; Prince appeared in all 17 games for New Hampshire, and was a key part of their defense that only allowed .94 goals per game. Prince also tallied two assists on the season.
Sophomore forward Kaylan Williams (Marion, Ind.) was the lone Wildcat named to the All-Conference second team. Williams had the second most points on the team with 11, and the second most goals with five. She also tallied one assist on the year and had two game-winning goals. Williams appeared in all 17 games for the Wildcats.
Freshman midfielder Sofia Borea (Oakville, Ontario) was selected to the All-Rookie team, appearing in all 17 games as a key reserve and tallying one assist in her first career season.
Freshman forward Francesca Picicci (North Massapequa, N.Y.) was another All-Rookie selection. She saw action in all 17 games, first as a reserve but started the last 10 games for New Hampshire, after getting her two first career goals in her first career start. She finished the year with three goals, two assists for eight points, and two game-winning goals.
The Wildcats await the results of the Quarterfinal matchup on Thursday, Oct. 26 between #4 seeded Hartford and #5 seeded Stony Brook; the winner will travel to Durham, N.H. to face the #1 seeded Wildcats on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. at Bremner Field.
Neas had only seen action in three games prior to her senior season, and started 16 of 17 of New Hampshire's games this season with an 11-4-1 record. She played 1467 minutes for the Wildcats, stopping 83 shots while allowing only 13 goals for a .865 save percentage and a conference-leading 0.80 goals against average. She had six shutouts on the season, tied for the conference-high. Neas was also selected to the All-Academic Team with a 3.91 GPA, and is a member of the All-Conference First Team.
The UNH coaching staff of Steve Welham, Amanda Webb, and Sammy Boateng, led the team to its fifth 11-win season in program history, the most wins in the Welham coaching era. The teams' 6-3-0 non-conference record was the best in program history, and their first non-conference winning record since 2005. This coaching staff also led the team to the program's second ever six-game winning streak, the first happened in 1988. The Wildcats have made the America East Tournament all four years of the Welham era. New Hampshire clinched the #1 seed in the America East Tournament for the first time since 2007.
Four Wildcats were named to the All-Conference First Team, more than any other team in the conference. One player was named to the All-Conference Second Team, two to the All-Rookie Team, and two were on the All-Academic team.
Senior forward Brooke Murphy (Monson, Mass.) was named to the All-Conference First Team. Murphy led the team with 22 points on 10 goals and two assists, and a team-high three game-winning goals. She broke the UNH program record for career goals and points; she currently sits at 43 goals and 97 points. Murphy started every game for the team this season.
Junior midfielder Gaby Dorsey (Hubertus, Wis.) was also selected to the All-Conference First Team, with 10 points on four goals and two assists, including two game-winning goals. Dorsey was also selected as a member of the All-Academic team with a 3.61 GPA. Dorsey also started every game for New Hampshire this year.
Senior defender Kendra Prince (Ajax, Ontario) was another Wildcat named to the All-Conference First Team; Prince appeared in all 17 games for New Hampshire, and was a key part of their defense that only allowed .94 goals per game. Prince also tallied two assists on the season.
Sophomore forward Kaylan Williams (Marion, Ind.) was the lone Wildcat named to the All-Conference second team. Williams had the second most points on the team with 11, and the second most goals with five. She also tallied one assist on the year and had two game-winning goals. Williams appeared in all 17 games for the Wildcats.
Freshman midfielder Sofia Borea (Oakville, Ontario) was selected to the All-Rookie team, appearing in all 17 games as a key reserve and tallying one assist in her first career season.
Freshman forward Francesca Picicci (North Massapequa, N.Y.) was another All-Rookie selection. She saw action in all 17 games, first as a reserve but started the last 10 games for New Hampshire, after getting her two first career goals in her first career start. She finished the year with three goals, two assists for eight points, and two game-winning goals.
The Wildcats await the results of the Quarterfinal matchup on Thursday, Oct. 26 between #4 seeded Hartford and #5 seeded Stony Brook; the winner will travel to Durham, N.H. to face the #1 seeded Wildcats on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. at Bremner Field.
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