Wildcats Clinch #1 Seed, Draw with UMass Lowell (0-0)

Thursday, October 19

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

11-4-1, 5-1-1

University of Massachusetts Lowell

5-5-6, 2-2-3

OT 3

OT 4

UMass Lowell

New Hampshire

(Photo by Joey Walker)

Photo by: Joey Walker

10/19/2017 9:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Highlights

The Wildcats have clinched the #1 seed in the America East Playoffs for the first time since 2007.

DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire women's soccer team played to its first draw of the season, but in doing so clinched the #1 seed in the America East Tournament. The Wildcats tied with the UMass Lowell River Hawks, 0-0, on Thursday night at Bremner Field, and with the tie the Wildcats sit at 16 points in conference. It's the first time the Wildcats have clinched the #1 seed in the tournament since 2007, when they shared the regular season title with Boston University.

With the clinching of the one-seed, the Wildcats have also clinched at least a share of the regular season title. Two other teams, Binghamton, and Hartford, both have one game remaining and are the only two teams who can reach New Hampshire's mark of 16 conference points. However, since UNH holds conference wins over both Binghamton and Hartford, UNH would win the tie-breaker for the #1 seed.

The standings are as follows:

#	Team	Record	Points
1	New Hampshire	5-1-1	16	*
2	Binghamton	4-2-1	13	^
3	Hartford	4-2-1	13	^
4	Albany	4-3-1	13	^
5	Stony Brook	4-3-0	12	^
6	UMass Lowell	2-2-3	9	&
7	Vermont	2-4-1	7	&
8	Maine	2-5-0	6	&
9	UMBC	1-6	3

* Clinched #1 seed
^ Clinched playoff birth
& In the hunt for playoff spot

UP NEXT:
The Wildcats have one game remaining in the regular season, as they travel to Maryland on Sunday to face the UMBC Retrievers. With a win, the Wildcats claim sole possesion of the regular season title. The America East playoffs start next Thursday, October 26, and the Wildcats were the first team to clinch a playoff spot. With the results on Thursday evening, the Wildcats now have a first-round bye and will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Their next game will be on Sunday, October 29 at Bremner Field, opponent and time TBD.

GAME INFO:
Date: Thursday, October 19, 2017
Location: Bremner Field (Durham, N.H.)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Score: UNH 0, UMass Lowell 0
Records: UNH (11-4-1, 5-1-1); UMass Lowell (5-5-6, 2-2-3)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Both teams started off the half with shots that went just wide.
Gaby Dorsey (Hubertus, Wis.) had an extended effort from the right side with a hard shot on net, but it was saved by the UML 'keeper.
Brooke Murphy (Monson, Mass.) had a pair of free kicks in the middle of the first half, both within 30 yards, but couldn't get an opening on net and the ball didn't find any other Wildcats on the rebounds.
UMass Lowell opened the second half with a strong attack by Veronica Morrier, but Mia Neas (Old Saybrook, Conn.) quickly charged the striker and calmly collected the ball to halt the River Hawk attack.
UNH had a chance off a corner in the 83rd minute, but it was punched out by the keeper Julia Schneider.
UML striker Rachel Morrier had two good chances on Neas in the 85th and 86th minutes, but both chances were saved.
New Hampshire had one good chance in overtime, as Caitlyn Keenan (Bow, N.H.) floated a shot on net that went just over the crossbar.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

UMass Lowell did not take a corner kick all game; UNH took seven.
UNH outshot UML 15-7 in regulation; UML held a slight advantage in shots, 6-4 in overtime.
Each team had two shots on goal in overtime.
Brooke Murphy led the Wildcats with seven shots, Rachel Morrier had eight for UML.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

This is the first tie for the Wildcats this season. They are 1-1-1 in overtime this season.
UNH remains unbeaten at home with a 7-0-1 record in Durham.
The Wildcats were held scoreless for the first time since September 1st, when they lost to Northern Colorado 1-0.
Mia Neas has shut out six opponents this year for New Hampshire, three in conference.

KEEP CONNECTED:
• For the most up-to-date information on women's soccer, visit UNHWildcats.com and follow the team on Twitter @UNHWSOC.