Picicci and Sheppard Lead UNH Past Binghamton, 1-0

Saturday, October 23

Durham, N.H.

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

6-7-2, 4-3-1

Binghamton

8-6-3, 4-2-2

Binghamton

New Hampshire

Photo by: Larissa Biette

10/23/2021 5:27:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Senior captain Francesca Picicci (North Massapequa, N.Y.) scored the only goal to lift the University of New Hampshire women's soccer team to Saturday afternoon's 1-0 victory against Binghamton University at Wildcat Stadium.

UNH goalkeeper Cat Sheppard (Nesconset, N.Y.), another senior captain, was credited with six saves, including five in the second half, to backbone UNH to an important America East conference win with her seventh shutout of the season.

Binghamton goalie Haylee Poltorak was credited with four saves.

UNH improves to 6-7-2 overall and an America East conference record of 4-3-1. Binghamton is now 8-6-3 with a conference record of 4-2-2.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY
WSOC scoreboard_10.23.21

UP NEXT

New Hampshire plays its regualr-season finale Thursday, Oct. 28 (4 p.m.) at the University of Vermont.

FIRST HALF

Binghamton generated a corner kick in the eighth minute and Maya Anand's one-timer from the top of the box bounced through traffic and one yard wide of the right post.
On a UNH direct kick by sophomore Alivia Kelly (Pembroke, Mass.) from near midfield in the 14^th minute, classmate Anna Hewlett (Webster, N.Y.) ran onto the ball and volleyed a shot seven yards from the left post to the near side of the cage, but Poltorak made the save.
In the 19^th minute, Picicci charged deep on the left wing and ripped a rising shot to the upper-near corner that was snared by Poltorak.
UNH took a 1-0 lead at 32:57. From the left wing, sophomore Emily Bini (Guilderland, N.Y.) lifted a pass into the middle of the box, where freshman Meghan Guarente (Sewell, N.J.) chested the ball down and volleyed it toward the left post. From seven yards, Picicci headed a high-arcing shot that landed inside the right post.
The first half ended with UNH leading 1-0 in the scoring column and 5-1 in shots on goal.

SECOND HALF

In the 59^th minute, Emma Colling's direct kick from 38 yards was tipped over the crossbar by a leaping Sheppard just off the goal line.
In the 74^th minute, Bini's centering pass from the left wing was headed forcefully by junior Shayna Salis (Bedford, N.H.) wide left from 10 yards out.
In the 84^th minute, Binghamton's Nicole Scudero advanced past the defense on the right side, but UNH's Kelly recovered to block the shot attempt from six yards and keep the Wildcats ahead 1-0.
Moments later, Molly McClelland fired a shot over the crossbar.
The Bearcats continued to pressure and generated a corner in the 86^th minute. The service into the box deflectd off a Bingamton player and went wide of the left post.
Neither team recorded a shot the rest of the game.

GAME NOTEBOOK

UNH finished with five shots on goal, eight shots and one corner kick.
Binghamton had the edge in all three stats with six shots on goal, 17 shots and nine corner kicks, but UNH recorded the 1-0 win.
Picicci and Bini led UNH with two shots apiece.
Binghamton's Nicole Scudero led all players with four shots.

UNH NOTEBOOK

Sheppard is No. 4 on UNH's career shutout leaderboard with 15.
She is atop the program career leaderboard with a 0.92 GAA.
Picicci has six goals and 13 points, both of which are team highs.
Picicci has been highly efficient with six goals on 18 shots for a .333 shooting percentage.
Bini and Guarente are tied for the team lead with four assists; Hewlett also has four assists.
Guarente is the other Wildcat who has reached double digits in points with 10.
This marked the third consecutive UNH game that ended with a 1-0 score. The Wildcats defeated Binghamton and Maine, and lost to NJIT.
Each of the last five UNH games has ended with one team being shut out. The 'Cats are 4-1-0 and have outscored the opposition 8-1 in that span.

SENIOR DAY

New Hampshire recognized its four seniors -- Julie Cane (Titusville, N.J.), Alyssa Di Lorenzo (Floral Park, N.Y.), Halle Hamilton (Londonderry, N.H.) and Sheppard -- prior to Saturday's game.

DEVLOPING THE PLAYOFF PICTURE

With Saturday's win, UNH moves into a tie for third place in the conference standings with UMass Lowell at 13 points.
Vermont is atop the standings with 15 points, followed by Binghamton (14).
UNH and UMass Lowell are followed by Hartford and UAlbany with 11 points apiece.
UNH and Binghamton have one conference game remaining. The eight remaining conference teams have two games left.
The top six teams advance to the America East tournament.
All 10 teams play the regular-season finale Oct. 28.

SERIES NOTEBOOK

UNH has a 7-2-1 record vs. Binghamton the past 10 meetings, but the teams have alternated wins the last five games.
Excluding the tie, seven of the last 10 games in the series have been decided by one goal.