Men’s Soccer Returns Home to Host UMass (Sat., 7 p.m.)

Saturday, September 19

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

University of Massachusetts

Photo by: Greg Greene

9/18/2015 1:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer

DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire men's soccer team returns home for the first time since Aug. 28 as it hosts the University of Massachusetts on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. on Bremner Field. Links to live stats and video are available on www.UNHWildcats.com.

SCOUTING UNH: The Wildcats have produced a record of 4-0-1 to start the season and are unbeaten through the first five games for the first time since 2008 when the team was 3-0-2. In the most recent NSCAA Division I East Region Poll, the Wildcats checked in at No. 2. The ranking is the highest for the program since being ranked No. 1 in the region in 2005.

The Wildcats are coming off a championship weekend at the Peter Baldwin Memorial Classic presented by Morgan Stanley and The Windjammer, held at the University of Vermont. In game one (Sept. 11), the 'Cats defeated Central Connecticut State University by a score of 2-0. Both goals came from eventual tournament MVP, Chris Wingate (Hovik, Norway). In the second game, senior Ben Ramin (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) recorded a pair of goals as the Wildcats defeated the University of North Carolina at Asheville, 2-0. In addition to Wingate and Ramin, seniors Andrew Chaput (Manchester, N.H.) and Lukas Goerigk (Berlin, Germany) as well as junior Riley Ellis (Goffstown, N.H.) were also named to the All-Tournament Team.

UNH is led on offense by Wingate and Ramin, who each have three goals and one assist for seven points. Freshman Chris Arling (Windham, N.H.) and senior Connor Pauley (Londonderry, N.H.) both have four points stemming from one goal and two assists. Junior Karl Frisk (Molndal, Sweden) and senior Fazal Nabi (Portland, Maine) split their three points on a goal and an assist. Senior A.J. Albers (Eagan, Minn.) and freshman Alex Valencia (Tracy, Calif.) have a pair of points on a goal while Goerigk has two points on two assists. Junior Duff Thomson (Newton, N.H.) has one point on an assist.

Senior keeper Ryan Carpenter (Newmarket, N.H.) has started all four games that he has played and holds a record of 3-0-1. He has a goals against average of 1.18 and a save percentage of .500 and also has a shutout. Sophomore transfer keeper Andrew Pesci (Windham, N.H.) started the last game UNH played and earned a shutout win.

SCOUTING UMASS: The Minutemen head into this Saturday's matchup against the Wildcats at a 1-6-0 mark. The team recently defeated Hartford for its first win of the season, after dropping the first six games. In the victory, UMass overcame a 1-0 deficit, as freshman midfielder Samuel Asamoah scored his first goal of the year in the 38^th minute, followed by freshman forward Kevin Boino's first score in the 64^th minute to seal the win. Junior midfielder Ty Goncalves has started five of the team's seven games, leading UMass in shots on goal (four) and tied for first in points (three). In the win over Hartford, Goncalves recorded one assist and two shots in 88 minutes.

Sophomore forward Alex DeSantis has played in all seven of the Minutemen's games, starting five of them. He leads the team in assists (three) and is also tied for first in points (three). In the victory against Hartford, DeSantis totaled one assist and one shot in 68 minutes.

Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Bardia Asefnia heads into the matchup against New Hampshire with a 1-5-0 record, starting all six of the games in which he has played. This season, he has allowed an average of 2.32 goals per game, saving 65.8% of the shots that he has faced. Last time out against Hartford, Asefnia saved six shots and allowed one goal in 90 minutes.

What's up Next? The Wildcats are back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 22 as the squad travels to Northeastern University. Kick off is slated for 6 p.m.

For more information on men's soccer, visit www.UNHWildcats.com. To sign up for UNH Text Alerts, click HERE or text UNH to 90561.