Guarente's Goal and Assist Lifts UNH Past Merrimack, 3-0

Thursday, August 19

Durham, N.H.

6 PM

University of New Hampshire

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Merrimack

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Merrimack

New Hampshire

Photo by: Michelle Bronner

8/19/2021 10:21:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | BOX SCORE (PDF) | PHOTO GALLERY

DURHAM, N.H. – Freshman Meghan Guarente (Sewell, N.J.) recorded a goal and an assist and senior Cat Sheppard (Nesconset, N.Y.) stopped all four shots on goal to lead the University of New Hampshire women's soccer team to Thursday night's 3-0 win against Merrimack College at Wildcat Stadium. It was the season opener for both teams.

Sheppard recorded three saves in the first half and one in the second for her ninth career clean sheet.

Freshman Abbie Burgess (Killingly, Conn.) scored the first goal of the 2021 season in the sixth minute and that proved to be the game-winning tally.

Merrimack goalkeeper Claire DeFlora was credited with 10 saves.

UNH 3, Merrimack 0 _graphic

UP NEXT

UNH returns to action Aug. 22 at home against Sacred Heart University. Game time at Wildcat Stadium is 2 p.m.

FIRST HALF

UNH pressured in the opening minute, when Guarente's shot was stopped by DeFlora.
DeFlora then denied sophomore Keegan Mayer (Summit, N.J.) in the sixth minute.
Moments later, however, Burgess gave New Hampshire a 1-0 lead at 5:43 when she drove a low, right-footed shot from just outside the top-right of the penalty area inside the left post. Guarente and Mayer were credited with assists.
Sheppard made her first save of the night by denying Rebecca Harty in the 13^th minutes.
Guarente extended the advantage to 2-0 at 31:46 when she collected a pass at the top of the box, turned to her left to beat the defender and curled a shot inside the left post. Sophomore Alivia Kelly (Pembroke, Mass.) set up the goal with a diagonal pass from 10 yards outside the top-right of the penalty box.
In the 36^th minute, Merrimack's Julia Ritcey's low drive from 20 yards was corralled by Sheppard.
One minute later from the same location, Emma Panarella was also denied by Sheppard.
In the 38^th minute, Burgess pushed between a pair of defenders to win possession of a thru ball, but her last touch as she entered the penalty box was a bit strong and DeFlora, who charged from her line, denied a shot attempt by smothering the ball.

SECOND HALF

UNH took a 3-0 lead at 47:07 – just two minutes into the second half – when a Merrimack defender inadvertently headed the ball back into the upper-right corner from six yards.
A tremendous effort by sophomore Emily Bini (Guilderland, N.Y.) set up that tally. Bini's pressure in the right corner forced a turnover, and it was her centering pass that was played into the goal.
On a direct kick in the 51^st minute, sophomore Ella Dudley (St. Augustine, Fla.) blasted a shot from 25 yards toward the upper-left corner that DeFlora batted wide of the post.
In the 55^th minute, the Warriors' Hallie Shiers won possession deep on the right wing, advanced toward the net and her rising shot from seven yards was stopped by Sheppard.
Burgess again got behind a pair of defenders, and this time her right-footed rocket from 18 yards was knocked down by DeFlora to keep the margin at three goals.
The clearing attempt was stopped by Mayer and her attempt from 23 yards sailed over the crossbar.
With 17 minutes remaining, Burgess had another dangerous scoring chance as her high shot from 28 yards was tipped over the top by DeFlora's right hand.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

New Hampshire recorded a 17-11 shot advantage that included a 12-4 edge in shots on goal.
UNH finished with a 4-3 edge in corner kicks. Both teams had three in the second half.
The Wildcats had possession for 57% in comparison to MC's 43%. That number leveled out in comparison to a 66-34 edge in the first half.

UNH NOTEBOOK

New Hampshire extended its winning streak at Wildcat Stadium to nine. UNH was a perfect 5-0-0 in the 2020-21 season.
The 'Cats have a 5-1-2 record in season openers in head coach Steve Welham's eight-year tenure. That includes a 3-1-2 mark at home.

SERIES NOTEBOOK