Wildcats to host semifinal game versus either UAlbany or UMass Lowell
DURHAM, N.H. – The No. 18 University of New Hampshire men's soccer team earned the No. 1 seed in the America East Tournament with a 1-1 tie versus Vermont on Wednesday night at Wildcat Stadium and will receive a first-round bye to the semifinals. The Wildcats also won the Co-America East Regular Season Championship, shared with the Catamounts. The regular season championship is the second in program history as the Wildcats also won it in 2009. UNH is now 12-1-3 (5-1-1 AE) on the season, while Vermont is 11-5-1 (5-1-1 AE). The Wildcats won the tiebreaker with UVM after finishing with a better goal differential in conference games with a plus 12 as Vermont posted a plus 11.
Senior forward Jack Doherty (Meriden, N.H.) put the Wildcats ahead early in the first half, but the Catamounts came back to tie the game late in the second to send the contest into two scoreless overtime periods.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats will play in an America East semifinal game on Wednesday, November 13 at Wildcat Stadium on ESPN+. UNH will take on the winner of the No. 4 seed UAlbany and No. 5 seed UMass Lowell game. Josh Bauer and Jonny Wolf (Photo by Meghan Murphy)
Just 3:55 into the first half, senior Antonio Colacci (Bradenton, Fla.) took a free kick from just over 20 yards out to senior Josh Bauer (Bedford, N.H.), who headed the ball to the right side of the goal where Doherty was to finish it into the net.
Junior Linus Fallberg (Jonkoping, Sweden) had a chance to score at 8:15 when he headed a cross ball from graduate student Fabian Lutz (Bad Groenenbach, Germany) towards the goal that was saved by Aron Runarsson in a diving effort.
The Catamounts tied the game, 1-1, in the 75th minute off a penalty kick by Rasmus Taobinski. The penalty kick was awarded due to a foul on graduate student goalkeeper Alejandro Robles (Monterey, Mexico).
With two seconds left in regulation play, Vermont took a free kick from 35 yards away that was headed towards the upper left of the net but snatched by Robles.
In the 96th minute, Lutz fired a strong shot to the upper right corner of the goal that went just over.
Vermont had a close shot in the 107th minute when Ivar Orn Arnason headed the ball towards the top of the net off a corner kick, but Robles was there to grab it.
After two hard-fought overtime periods, the score remained 1-1.
Bilal Kamal (Photo by Meghan Murphy)
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Overall shots were even at 12-12, but UNH outshot Vermont 8-3 in shots on target.
The Catamount had 22 fouls, while the Wildcats had 11.
Vermont took five corner kicks and UNH had two.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
UNH is 26-1-4 all time at Wildcat Stadium, including a 6-0-1 record this season.
The Wildcats have outscored their opponents this season 33-7.
Wildcats look to defend their America East Championship title, as they won their first one last year.
STAY CONNECTED
There are numerous ways to stay connected with the UNH men's soccer team. Follow the Wildcats on Twitter @UNHMSoccer and on Instagram @unhmenssoccer.
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