University of New Hampshire Athletics
Wednesday, February 24
Durham, N.H.
2 PM
University of New Hampshire
vs
Merrimack College
UNH Plays Host to Merrimack on Feb. 24 (AE.tv)
2/22/2021 1:27:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Merrimack College (1-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 NEC) at New Hampshire (1-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 America East)
Wednesday, February 24 | 2 p.m.
Wildcat Stadium | Durham, N.H.
Wednesday, February 24 | 2 p.m.
Wildcat Stadium | Durham, N.H.
THE MATCHUP
New Hampshire won the only previous meeting against Merrimack College; the Wildcats were 3-1 victors at the University of Vermont's Virtue Field on Aug. 30, 2019. In that game, the Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute, but UNH netted goals in the 25th, 49th and 61st minutes. The Wildcats recorded a 22-10 shot advantage (9-4 on goal) and had an 8-2 edge in corner kicks.
CLICK HERE to view recent results, box scores and recaps (Aug. 2019 to current)
New Hampshire won the only previous meeting against Merrimack College; the Wildcats were 3-1 victors at the University of Vermont's Virtue Field on Aug. 30, 2019. In that game, the Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute, but UNH netted goals in the 25th, 49th and 61st minutes. The Wildcats recorded a 22-10 shot advantage (9-4 on goal) and had an 8-2 edge in corner kicks.
CLICK HERE to view recent results, box scores and recaps (Aug. 2019 to current)
ALIVIA KELLY RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Freshman back Alivia Kelly was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Women's Team of the Week: Feb. 9-15. She scored the game's only goal in a 1-0 victory against Northeastern University on Feb. 14 and helped the Wildcats record a clean sheet by limiting the Huskies to six shots (three on goal).
Freshman back Alivia Kelly was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Women's Team of the Week: Feb. 9-15. She scored the game's only goal in a 1-0 victory against Northeastern University on Feb. 14 and helped the Wildcats record a clean sheet by limiting the Huskies to six shots (three on goal).
SHEPPARD'S SIXTH SHUTOUT
Junior goalie Cat Sheppard recorded her sixth career shutout with a three-save effort in UNH's 1-0 victory against Northeastern at Wildcat Stadium on Feb. 14. Sheppard shut out five opponents in the 2019 season.
Junior goalie Cat Sheppard recorded her sixth career shutout with a three-save effort in UNH's 1-0 victory against Northeastern at Wildcat Stadium on Feb. 14. Sheppard shut out five opponents in the 2019 season.
CAREER FIRSTS
Freshman back Alivia Kelly scored a goal in her collegiate debut to record her first career points. Classmate Anna Hewlett also tallied her first career point with an assist on that game-winning goal; it was Hewlett's service from the left corner (on a corner kick) that Kelly headed into the net at 19:55.
Freshman back Alivia Kelly scored a goal in her collegiate debut to record her first career points. Classmate Anna Hewlett also tallied her first career point with an assist on that game-winning goal; it was Hewlett's service from the left corner (on a corner kick) that Kelly headed into the net at 19:55.
MORE CAREER FIRSTS
Five Wildcats made their first career start in the Feb. 14 season opener: junior Alyssa Di Lorenzo and freshmen Emily Bini, Ella Dudley, Anna Hewlett and Alivia Kelly. Also of note, freshmen Keegan Mayer and Chloe Schnitt made their collegiate debuts as subs off the bench.
Five Wildcats made their first career start in the Feb. 14 season opener: junior Alyssa Di Lorenzo and freshmen Emily Bini, Ella Dudley, Anna Hewlett and Alivia Kelly. Also of note, freshmen Keegan Mayer and Chloe Schnitt made their collegiate debuts as subs off the bench.
ON TARGET
New Hampshire recorded five shots – all on goal, and all in the first half – in the season opener vs. Northeastern. Five 'Cats tallied one shot: Hewlett, Kelly, Casey Peterson, Francesca Picicci and Whitney Wiley.
New Hampshire recorded five shots – all on goal, and all in the first half – in the season opener vs. Northeastern. Five 'Cats tallied one shot: Hewlett, Kelly, Casey Peterson, Francesca Picicci and Whitney Wiley.
REVAMPED ROSTER
UNH's Spring 2021 team, led by seventh-year head coach Steve Welham, has a very different looking roster from the one that went 10-8-0, scored 28 goals (the most by UNH since '07), shut out six opponents and advanced to the America East semifinals in the 2019 season. This year's roster is comprised of three seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and 12 freshmen.
UNH's Spring 2021 team, led by seventh-year head coach Steve Welham, has a very different looking roster from the one that went 10-8-0, scored 28 goals (the most by UNH since '07), shut out six opponents and advanced to the America East semifinals in the 2019 season. This year's roster is comprised of three seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and 12 freshmen.
THE CAPTAINS
Seniors Casey Peterson and Francesca Picicci are the captains. Peterson is one of three returning starters. The midfield/forward played in 16 of 18 games, was in the starting lineup 15 times and played 1,312 of a possible 1,621 minutes. She tallied one point on an assist and a total of nine shots. Peterson has 30 starts the past two seasons. Picicci, a forward/midfield player, saw action in all 18 games and was in the starting lineup once (Sept. 29 at Binghamton University); she played a total of 440 minutes.
Seniors Casey Peterson and Francesca Picicci are the captains. Peterson is one of three returning starters. The midfield/forward played in 16 of 18 games, was in the starting lineup 15 times and played 1,312 of a possible 1,621 minutes. She tallied one point on an assist and a total of nine shots. Peterson has 30 starts the past two seasons. Picicci, a forward/midfield player, saw action in all 18 games and was in the starting lineup once (Sept. 29 at Binghamton University); she played a total of 440 minutes.
MAKING HER POINT
UNH's top returning point producer is sophomore Whitney Wiley, who was named to the 2019 America East All-Rookie Team. Wiley ranked third on the team in goals (five), assists (three) and points (13), and her 41 shots tied for second. She scored the game-winning goal at Vermont and vs. Sacred Heart, and finished that game vs. SHU with two goals. Wiley started every game and was on the pitch for 1,405 minutes.
UNH's top returning point producer is sophomore Whitney Wiley, who was named to the 2019 America East All-Rookie Team. Wiley ranked third on the team in goals (five), assists (three) and points (13), and her 41 shots tied for second. She scored the game-winning goal at Vermont and vs. Sacred Heart, and finished that game vs. SHU with two goals. Wiley started every game and was on the pitch for 1,405 minutes.
WildCat in Goal
New Hampshire's other returning starter is junior goalkeeper Cat Sheppard, who started all 18 games and played 1,580 of a possible 1,621 minutes. Sheppard had a 10-8-0 record with a 1.03 GAA, .804 save percentage and five shutouts; she also combined with Cam Droste for another shutout. In eight America East conference games, Sheppard was 5-3-0 with a 1.02 GAA, .814 save percentage and three shutouts.
New Hampshire's other returning starter is junior goalkeeper Cat Sheppard, who started all 18 games and played 1,580 of a possible 1,621 minutes. Sheppard had a 10-8-0 record with a 1.03 GAA, .804 save percentage and five shutouts; she also combined with Cam Droste for another shutout. In eight America East conference games, Sheppard was 5-3-0 with a 1.02 GAA, .814 save percentage and three shutouts.
UNH PICKED FIFTH IN AMERICA EAST PRESEASON POLL
The University of New Hampshire women's soccer team was picked fifth in the Spring 2021 America East Women's Soccer Preseason Poll that was released Feb. 10. Stony Brook University received all nine possible first-place votes and a total of 81 points in the poll. The University of Hartford received the other first-place vote and 70 points. The third through sixth spots were separated by 11 points with UAlbany (58 points) followed by UMass Lowell (53), UNH (50) and Binghamton University (47).
The University of New Hampshire women's soccer team was picked fifth in the Spring 2021 America East Women's Soccer Preseason Poll that was released Feb. 10. Stony Brook University received all nine possible first-place votes and a total of 81 points in the poll. The University of Hartford received the other first-place vote and 70 points. The third through sixth spots were separated by 11 points with UAlbany (58 points) followed by UMass Lowell (53), UNH (50) and Binghamton University (47).
FOLLOW THE UNH WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM
Twitter: @UNHWSOC Twitter: @UNHWildcats
Instagram: @unhwsoc Instagram: @UNHWildcats
Facebook: UNH Women's Soccer Facebook: UNH Wildcats
Get UNH WSOC Emails Get UNH Athletics Emails
Twitter: @UNHWSOC Twitter: @UNHWildcats
Instagram: @unhwsoc Instagram: @UNHWildcats
Facebook: UNH Women's Soccer Facebook: UNH Wildcats
Get UNH WSOC Emails Get UNH Athletics Emails
Players Mentioned
F/MF
/ Women's Soccer
B/F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
B
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
B
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
B
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's SoccerUNH Women's Soccer vs NJIT Highlights 10-5-25
Sunday, October 05
UNH Women's Soccer vs UMass Lowell Highlights 10 2 25
Friday, October 03
UNH Women's Soccer vs Southern Maine Highlights 9 21 25
Sunday, September 21
UNH Women's Soccer vs Merrimack 9-3-25 Highlights
Thursday, September 04