Wiley's Two Goals, Assist Lift UNH Past Merrimack, 5-1

Wednesday, February 24

Durham, N.H.

2 PM

University of New Hampshire

2-0-0, 0-0-0

Merrimack College

1-1-0, 0-0-0

Merrimack

New Hampshire

Photo by: Jack Bouchard

2/24/2021 6:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Sophomore Whitney Wiley (Vienna, Va.) recorded two goals and an assist to propel the University of New Hampshire women's soccer team to Wednesday afternoon's 5-1 non-conference victory against Merrimack College at Wildcat Stadium.

The two goals matched a career high for Wiley, and the five points established a personal best. Senior captain Fancesca Picicci (North Massapequa, N.Y.) recorded a goal and an assist. Freshmen Cassie Jones (Beverly, Mass.) and Shayna Salis (Bedford, N.H.) netted UNH's other goals.

UNH starting goalkeeper Cat Sheppard (Nesconset, N.Y.), the reigning America East Defensive Player of the Week, was credited with the win; the junior did not record a save and allowed one goal in 69 minutes, 18 seconds. Freshman Ashley Buchheit (Downington, Pa.) had one save in her 20:42 relief stint.

Merrimack's goal was scored by Hallie Shiers. Starting goalie Megan Langlois stopped seven of 12 shots on goal in 77:01. Michele Silva was not credited with a save in the final 12:59.

New Hampshire improved to 2-0-0 and MC is now 1-1-0.

WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

UP NEXT

UNH is scheduled to return to action Feb. 28 at home against the University of Rhode Island. Game time is 2 p.m.

FIRST HALF

UNH recorded a 13-1 shot advantage, including 9-0 on goal, to build a 4-0 lead going into halftime.
Picicci got the scoring started early with a tally at 4:28. Wiley won the battle for possession 40 yards out on the right side. She advanced down the middle and, from just outside the top of the box, slipped a pass to the left wing, where Picicci one-timed a left-footer inside the near post.
Wiley scored on a direct kick from the right corner of the field when her bounding ball went through a screen and inside the far post for a 2-0 lead at 31:08.
Jones and Salis scored goals 61 seconds apart late in the half to quickly extend the advantage to 4-0.
Freshman Anna Hewlett (Webster, N.Y.) corralled a loose ball 15 yards from the right post and advanced toward goal. Her centering pass eluded Langois and the charging Jones tapped the ball into the open net at 43:01.
On the fourth goal, sophomore Rachel Hollywood (Mullica, N.J.) collected her blocked service from the right corner and sent her second attempt to the far post, where Salis redirected a shot back across the goalmouth inside the right post at 44:02.

SECOND HALF

New Hampshire carried momentum from the end of the first half into the second half and extended the margin to 5-0 at 48:10, when Wiley's right-footed strike from the top of the box sailed inside the left post. Picicci, with the pass from the left corner, was credited with the assist.
Merrimack closed within 5-1 at 50:30 when Shiers advanced down the left wing and, from just outside the top corner of the box, blasted a shot under the crossbar.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

UNH finished with a 17-5 shot advantage that included 12-2 on goal.
The Wildcats recorded a 6-1 edge in corner kicks, and that included 5-0 in the first half.
Picicci tallied a game-high three shots, two of which were on goal.
Wiley and Ella Dudley (St. Augustine, Fla.) also had two shots on goal.

UNH NOTEBOOK

Hewlett, a freshman, has recorded an assist each of the first two games of the season.
Hollywood recorded her first career point with the assist in the 45^th minute.
UNH has outscored the opposition 6-1 through two games.
UNH's season-opening shutout streak ended at 140 minutes, 30 seconds.
This is the third time in four seasons that the Wildcats have opened 2-0-0.
The 'Cats scored five goals in a game twice last season, most recently Oct. 31, 2019 vs. UMass Lowell; that was also a 5-1 win, and UNH also scored four first-half goals.

SERIES NOTEBOOK

UNH has won both matchups against Merrimack.
The Wildcats prevailed 3-1 on Aug. 30, 2019 in a neutral-site game at the University of Vermont.

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