Guarente, Sheppard Lift UNH Into America East Semifinals on PKs

Sunday, October 31

Newark, N.J.

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

6-8-3, 4-4-1

NJIT

7-10-2, 5-3-1

New Hampshire

NJIT

Photo by: Lamar Carter / NJIT

Guarente, Sheppard Lift UNH Into America East Semifinals on PKs

10/31/2021 7:27:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Wildcats and NJIT play to 0-0 Tie in First Round

PHOTO GALLERY

NEWARK, N.J. – Freshman Meghan Guarente (Sewell, N.J.) scored in the seventh round of the penalty kick shootout to lift the University of New Hampshire women's soccer team out of Sunday's first round America East matchup against NJIT at Lubetkin Field.

UNH and NJIT played to a scoreless draw through 110 minutes – 90 of regulation and a pair of 10-minute overtime sessions. The game proceeded to a Best of 5 penalty kick shootout to determine which team would advance to the semifinals. The teams were deadlocked 3-3 through the five rounds, and then again 4-4 through six rounds.

Guarente deposited her shot high middle to put the Wildcats back in front and force the Highlanders to score to extend the game. UNH senior goalie and captain Cat Sheppard (Nesconset, N.Y.) moved slightly to her left as Tara Walenczyk approached the ball. Sheppard's dive to the right post had the bottom corner covered, and the shot bounced wide of the post to end the game with the Wildcats advancing, 5-4, in seven rounds of PKs.

Sheppard made six saves through 110 minutes to record her eighth shutout of the season and 16^th career clean sheet. The 'Cats also recorded a team save when Casey Peterson (Round Hill, Va.), another senior captain, prevented a goal.

NJIT's Molly Saylor was credited with four saves.

New Hampshire, the No. 6 seed, advances to play at second-seeded UMass Lowell in a Nov. 4 semifinal matchup at Cushing Field Complex. Game time is 7 p.m.

UNH moves to 6-8-3 overall and third-seeded NJIT ends the season at 7-10-2,

FIRST HALF

New Hampshire recorded a 9-4 shot advantage, including 4-0 on goal, in the opening 45 minutes. The 'Cats also had a 2-0 edge in corner kicks.
The Wildcats tested Saylor in the sixth and seventh minutes, but she made the stop to deny sophomore Emily Bini (Guilderland, N.Y.) and then classmate Logan Nicholson (St. Augustine, Fla.).
NJIT was held without a shot until the 29^th minute, when Christine Conaghy sent a shot wide right.

SECOND HALF

NJIT had the edge in both shots (9-8) and corners (3-2) in the second half.
All six of Sheppard's saves were in the second half. The first was in the 47^th minute when she turned aside Caroline Caputo's shot.
NJIT earned a corner in the 47^th minute and Gabby Zalot's shot caromed off the crossbar. Conaghy's shot to the middle of the net was stopped by Peterson to deny a goal, and then Madison Taibl's bid was stopped by Sheppard.
The 'Cats responded with pressure at the other end and generated a corner kick, and senior captain Francesca Picicci (North Massapequa, N.Y.) put the ball out wide right.

FIRST OVERTIME

UNH generated a pair of corner kicks in the first 10-minute extra session, but neither team recorded a shot.

SECOND OVERTIME

The 'Cats had one more corner – and two more shots – in the second OT.
Guarente's shot sailed over the crossbar in the 102^nd minute, and she sent another shot high in the 105^th minute.

PENALTY KICKS

Senior Julie Cane (Titusville, N.J.) went first and scored on a shot to the lower left corner, and Sheppard stopped Nora O'Connor's shot high in the middle of the cage to give UNH a 1-0 lead.
NJIT leveled the score, 1-1, at the end of the second round.
Sophomore Anna Hewlett (Webster, N.Y.) deposited a shot into the upper-right corner and it was tied 2-2 through three rounds.
Bini's shot went into the top-left corner and once again the score was deadlocked, 3-3, through Round 4.
Neither team scored in Round 5 to send the game into single-round elimination.
Sophomore Keegan Mayer (Summit, N.J.) left-footed a shot into the lower left corner, but NJIT's Aleesha Deshmukh also converted to extend the game.
With Saylor moving to her left, Guarente's shot sailed high into the middle of the goal to put UNH back on top, 5-4, and that proved to be the deciding goal.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

New Hampshire finished with a 19-13 shot advantage, but NJIT had a 7-4 edge in shots on goal.
UNH had seven corner kicks in comparison to the Highlanders' three.
Guarente and Picicci led all players with five shots apiece.

UNH NOTEBOOK

UNH has advanced to the America East semifinals five of the last six years.
New Hampshire's previous conference tournament game decided by PKs was the 2015 first round, when Maine advanced 4-3 following a 1-1 tie.
The Wildcats advanced on PKs in both the first round and semifinals en route to winning the 2014 title.
Sheppard's 16 shutouts ranks No. 5 on UNH's career leaderboard.
Sheppard is atop the program's career GAA list at 0.95.

SERIES NOTEBOOK