.png&type=webp)
University of New Hampshire Athletics
The Wildcats shoot for a 4th straight America East title on Sunday at 2 in Wildcat Stadium against Vermont.
Photo by: China Wong
11/14/2021 7:58:00 AM | Men's Soccer, UNH Insider
Soccer 'Cats Host Vermont on Sunday at 2 in Bid for 4th Straight Crown
DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire men's soccer team, ranked No. 6 in the country and one of two undefeated squads in the land, takes on Vermont on Sunday afternoon at 2 in Wildcat-friendly Wildcat Stadium for the America East championship.
Again.
It's a rematch of last year's title game, won by UNH for its third straight championship in a season played last spring.
Tickets are available at www.unhwildcats.com and at the gate on Sunday.
The Wildcats are looking not only for a fourth straight title, a feat last accomplished in the league nearly a quarter of a century ago, but to buff up their already more-than-solid resume for the NCAA tournament.
UNH is 16-0-2 overall and earned the top seed in the America East tournament with a 7-0-1 record. Vermont is the No. 2 seed and is 12-4-2 and put up a 6-1-1 record in league play.
The Wildcats attacked from the start and scored early and often on Thursday night on their way to a 4-0 win over UMBC in the semifinals in front of 2,455 fans at Wildcat Stadium.
They played solid defense as well and juniors Jassem Koleilat and Ben Bowers combined for the team's 11th shutout in 18 games.
"It was nice to see that, doing it on both ends scoring goals and getting a shutout," said UNH coach Marc Hubbard. "That gives us confidence going into the next one."
UNH is now 42-1-7 all-time in games in Wildcat Stadium. Yes, 42-1-7.
Vermont played the Wildcats to a 1-1 tie on Oct. 16 in Wildcat Stadium. The Wildcats knocked off the Catamounts, 2-0, for the America East championship last spring, also at home.
"The pressure is on us," said UNH sophomore back Liam Bennett, who starred at Concord High School. "How we handle the pressure is the most important thing. We want the pressure and we're going to continue making strides. This is one of our goals: To win America East. Hopefully we can do that Sunday."
In that October tie against Vermont, the Wildcats lost a player early to a red card and played a man down most of the game.
"They're definitely a team we're familiar with," Hubbard said. "It's a rivalry type of game. There's no shortage of motivation in Sunday's game. They're a physical opponent that tries to disrupt and likes to play in the attacking end."
Only one other America East team has won as many as four straight tournaments championships: Former league member Boston University won five in a row running from 1993-1997.
And as for doing it on both ends of the field: UNH has scored 43 goals and allowed only seven and is second in the country in goal differential and tops in goals against average as a team.
The offense has been balanced, too.
Grad student Johan van Knebel had a goal and two assists to lead the team in Thursday's win over UMBC and junior Rory O'Driscoll had a goal and an assist. Grad students Paul Mayer and Linus Fallberg had the other assists.
For the season, senior Tola Showunmi leads the team with 10 goals and Mayer, Fallberg and O'Driscoll have six each. Four other players have three goals apiece.
Bennett had an assist on O'Driscoll's goal and is part of that stifling defense that also includes the likes of Adam Savill, Bridger Hansen and Sam Henneberg. Savill was the America East Defender of the Year this season, an honor Hansen won last season.
The Wildcats take their next shot at Vermont on Sunday afternoon.
They'll find out Monday via an NCAA Selection Show whom, where and when they play next. The tournament begins Thursday with a field of 48 teams. Sixteen teams receive first-round byes.
The America East's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament goes to the Vermont-New Hampshire winner.
The Wildcats will be invited to the tournament as an at-large if they don't grab the auto bid.
"It's taking it one day at a time and not getting ahead of ourselves," Bennett said. "It (getting to another title game) is a pretty cool accomplishment. But we have more to do."
Allen Lessels
@UNHInsider
Allen.Lessels@unh.edu
Again.
It's a rematch of last year's title game, won by UNH for its third straight championship in a season played last spring.
Tickets are available at www.unhwildcats.com and at the gate on Sunday.
The Wildcats are looking not only for a fourth straight title, a feat last accomplished in the league nearly a quarter of a century ago, but to buff up their already more-than-solid resume for the NCAA tournament.
UNH is 16-0-2 overall and earned the top seed in the America East tournament with a 7-0-1 record. Vermont is the No. 2 seed and is 12-4-2 and put up a 6-1-1 record in league play.
The Wildcats attacked from the start and scored early and often on Thursday night on their way to a 4-0 win over UMBC in the semifinals in front of 2,455 fans at Wildcat Stadium.
They played solid defense as well and juniors Jassem Koleilat and Ben Bowers combined for the team's 11th shutout in 18 games.
"It was nice to see that, doing it on both ends scoring goals and getting a shutout," said UNH coach Marc Hubbard. "That gives us confidence going into the next one."
UNH is now 42-1-7 all-time in games in Wildcat Stadium. Yes, 42-1-7.
Vermont played the Wildcats to a 1-1 tie on Oct. 16 in Wildcat Stadium. The Wildcats knocked off the Catamounts, 2-0, for the America East championship last spring, also at home.
"The pressure is on us," said UNH sophomore back Liam Bennett, who starred at Concord High School. "How we handle the pressure is the most important thing. We want the pressure and we're going to continue making strides. This is one of our goals: To win America East. Hopefully we can do that Sunday."
In that October tie against Vermont, the Wildcats lost a player early to a red card and played a man down most of the game.
"They're definitely a team we're familiar with," Hubbard said. "It's a rivalry type of game. There's no shortage of motivation in Sunday's game. They're a physical opponent that tries to disrupt and likes to play in the attacking end."
Only one other America East team has won as many as four straight tournaments championships: Former league member Boston University won five in a row running from 1993-1997.
And as for doing it on both ends of the field: UNH has scored 43 goals and allowed only seven and is second in the country in goal differential and tops in goals against average as a team.
The offense has been balanced, too.
Grad student Johan van Knebel had a goal and two assists to lead the team in Thursday's win over UMBC and junior Rory O'Driscoll had a goal and an assist. Grad students Paul Mayer and Linus Fallberg had the other assists.
For the season, senior Tola Showunmi leads the team with 10 goals and Mayer, Fallberg and O'Driscoll have six each. Four other players have three goals apiece.
Bennett had an assist on O'Driscoll's goal and is part of that stifling defense that also includes the likes of Adam Savill, Bridger Hansen and Sam Henneberg. Savill was the America East Defender of the Year this season, an honor Hansen won last season.
The Wildcats take their next shot at Vermont on Sunday afternoon.
They'll find out Monday via an NCAA Selection Show whom, where and when they play next. The tournament begins Thursday with a field of 48 teams. Sixteen teams receive first-round byes.
The America East's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament goes to the Vermont-New Hampshire winner.
The Wildcats will be invited to the tournament as an at-large if they don't grab the auto bid.
"It's taking it one day at a time and not getting ahead of ourselves," Bennett said. "It (getting to another title game) is a pretty cool accomplishment. But we have more to do."
Allen Lessels
@UNHInsider
Allen.Lessels@unh.edu
Players Mentioned
B
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
Back
/ Men's Soccer
B
/ Men's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
M/B
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's SoccerSaturday, October 31
Sunday, October 25
Sunday, October 04
Wednesday, September 30