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University of New Hampshire Athletics
4/30/2021 9:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire women's soccer program held its annual banquet Friday night to recognize the accomplishments of the Spring 2021 team and its student-athletes. The Wildcats and their guests assembled virtually via a Zoom conference.
The three seniors received a total of six honors. Captain Francesca Picicci (North Massapequa, N.Y.) was named a recipient of three of the team's five awards, fellow captain Casey Peterson (Round Hill, Va.) had her name called twice, and Cam Droste (Lone Tree, Colo.) received one award.
UNH Women's Soccer Spring 2021 Team Awards
Most Valuable Player: Francesca Picicci
Coaches' Award: Casey Peterson, Cam Droste
Student-Athlete of the Year: Casey Peterson, Francesca Picicci
Most Outstanding Freshman: Anna Hewlett, Alivia Kelly
Barros Family Award: Francesca Picicci
WATCH SPRING 2021 HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
Picicci, who was named to the America East All-Conference Second Team and All-Academic Team, received three awards: Most Valuable Player, Student-Athlete of the Year and the Barros Family Award.
Picicci led this year's Wildcats in points (eight) and tied for the team lead in both goals (three) and assists (two). The forward also led the squad in both shots (15) and shots on goal (10).
On the America East leaderboard, Picicci is No. 4 in points per game (1.14), tied for third in assists, and tied for fourth in goals; she is also No. 9 in shots on goal (1.43 per game) and 12th in shots (2.14 per game).
Picicci scored a goal three consecutive games against Merrimack College, University of Rhode Island and University of Maine (spanning Feb. 25 to March 7) and tallied a point in 4 of 7 games. Her golden goal in the 95th minute lifted the 'Cats to a 1-0 overtime win vs. Maine.
The Barros Family Award was dedicated to Mr. Fernando Barros, Mrs. Gail Barros, and their daughter Lia during the 2008 season. It is presented to someone who has faced tremendous adversity but has exhibited a positive life force, persevered and pushed through when others would have quit, and whose pursuit of excellence is uncompromised. It is voted on by the team.
Peterson, a second-year captain, was a co-recipient of both the Coaches' Award Student-Athlete of the Year award. She started all seven games and played 623 of a possible 648 minutes (96.1%). Peterson played every minute in 5 of 7 games.
Droste was the other Wildcat to receive the Coaches' Award. She was acknowledged for her work ethic.
Anna Hewlett (Webster, N.Y.) and Alivia Kelly (Pembroke, Mass.) were named co-recipients of the Most Outstanding Freshman award.
Hewlett started all seven games as a freshman midfielder and was one of four UNH field players to play 600+ minutes (615). She tied for the team lead with two assists and also scored a goal to rank third in points with four.
Hewlett, an America East All-Rookie Team selection, recorded her first career point with an assist on Kelly's game-winning goal vs. Northeastern. She also tallied an assist the next game vs. Merrimack College. Hewlett's goal against Vermont lifted UNH into a 1-1 tie in the 87th minute and the Wildcats went on to a 2-1 overtime win.
Kelly, who was on the All-Conference Second Team and All-Rookie Team, recorded one goal for two points from her back position, where she also organized the defensive unit. She started every game and ranked second on the team in minutes played at 631 (of a possible 648 minutes; 97.4%); she played every minute in six of seven games.
New Hampshire recorded the third-best scoring defense (0.71 goals allowed per game) in America East with three shutouts. Kelly recorded her first collegiate points when she scored a goal in UNH's 1-0 victory against Northeastern University in the season opener.
Kelly was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Women's Team of the Week: Feb. 9-15 and was selected America East Rookie of the Week on March 2.
New Hampshire – led by head coach Steve Welham, associate head coach Amanda Bowes and assistant coach Stuart Horne – went 5-2-0 overall this season and earned a berth in the America East semifinals (but had to opt out because of COVID protocols).
UNH recorded the first 4-0-0 start in program history and had a perfect home record with five wins in five games at Wildcat Stadium.
The three seniors received a total of six honors. Captain Francesca Picicci (North Massapequa, N.Y.) was named a recipient of three of the team's five awards, fellow captain Casey Peterson (Round Hill, Va.) had her name called twice, and Cam Droste (Lone Tree, Colo.) received one award.
UNH Women's Soccer Spring 2021 Team Awards
Most Valuable Player: Francesca Picicci
Coaches' Award: Casey Peterson, Cam Droste
Student-Athlete of the Year: Casey Peterson, Francesca Picicci
Most Outstanding Freshman: Anna Hewlett, Alivia Kelly
Barros Family Award: Francesca Picicci
WATCH SPRING 2021 HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
Picicci, who was named to the America East All-Conference Second Team and All-Academic Team, received three awards: Most Valuable Player, Student-Athlete of the Year and the Barros Family Award.
Picicci led this year's Wildcats in points (eight) and tied for the team lead in both goals (three) and assists (two). The forward also led the squad in both shots (15) and shots on goal (10).
On the America East leaderboard, Picicci is No. 4 in points per game (1.14), tied for third in assists, and tied for fourth in goals; she is also No. 9 in shots on goal (1.43 per game) and 12th in shots (2.14 per game).
Picicci scored a goal three consecutive games against Merrimack College, University of Rhode Island and University of Maine (spanning Feb. 25 to March 7) and tallied a point in 4 of 7 games. Her golden goal in the 95th minute lifted the 'Cats to a 1-0 overtime win vs. Maine.
The Barros Family Award was dedicated to Mr. Fernando Barros, Mrs. Gail Barros, and their daughter Lia during the 2008 season. It is presented to someone who has faced tremendous adversity but has exhibited a positive life force, persevered and pushed through when others would have quit, and whose pursuit of excellence is uncompromised. It is voted on by the team.
Peterson, a second-year captain, was a co-recipient of both the Coaches' Award Student-Athlete of the Year award. She started all seven games and played 623 of a possible 648 minutes (96.1%). Peterson played every minute in 5 of 7 games.
Droste was the other Wildcat to receive the Coaches' Award. She was acknowledged for her work ethic.
Anna Hewlett (Webster, N.Y.) and Alivia Kelly (Pembroke, Mass.) were named co-recipients of the Most Outstanding Freshman award.
Hewlett started all seven games as a freshman midfielder and was one of four UNH field players to play 600+ minutes (615). She tied for the team lead with two assists and also scored a goal to rank third in points with four.
Hewlett, an America East All-Rookie Team selection, recorded her first career point with an assist on Kelly's game-winning goal vs. Northeastern. She also tallied an assist the next game vs. Merrimack College. Hewlett's goal against Vermont lifted UNH into a 1-1 tie in the 87th minute and the Wildcats went on to a 2-1 overtime win.
Kelly, who was on the All-Conference Second Team and All-Rookie Team, recorded one goal for two points from her back position, where she also organized the defensive unit. She started every game and ranked second on the team in minutes played at 631 (of a possible 648 minutes; 97.4%); she played every minute in six of seven games.
New Hampshire recorded the third-best scoring defense (0.71 goals allowed per game) in America East with three shutouts. Kelly recorded her first collegiate points when she scored a goal in UNH's 1-0 victory against Northeastern University in the season opener.
Kelly was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Women's Team of the Week: Feb. 9-15 and was selected America East Rookie of the Week on March 2.
New Hampshire – led by head coach Steve Welham, associate head coach Amanda Bowes and assistant coach Stuart Horne – went 5-2-0 overall this season and earned a berth in the America East semifinals (but had to opt out because of COVID protocols).
UNH recorded the first 4-0-0 start in program history and had a perfect home record with five wins in five games at Wildcat Stadium.
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's Soccer
MF
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B
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M/F
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F/M
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