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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Women's Soccer Gives Five Team Awards at Annual Banquet
4/26/2022 1:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire women's soccer program reflected on highlights of the 2021 season, honored its senior class and handed out five team awards at the annual team banquet held Sunday (April 24) at the Service Credit Union Victory Club of Wildcat Stadium.
VIEW TEAM BANQUET GALLERY
Team Awards
MVP: Francesca Picicci, Cat Sheppard
Coaches' Award: Jamie Irwin, Casey Peterson
Barros Family Award: Ande Allison
Most Outstanding Freshman: Meghan Guarente
Top Student-Athlete Award: Emily Bini, Francesca Picicci
The MVP Award was presented to senior captains Francesca Picicci (North Massapequa, N.Y.) and Cat Sheppard (Nesconset, N.Y.).
Sheppard played every second in the 2021 season to earn credit for all eight shutouts with a 0.90 GAA and .825 save percentage. She excelled in postseason play with a 0.58 GAA, .900 save percentage and one shutout in the three America East tournament games. Late in the regular season, Sheppard recorded three consecutive clean sheets spanning Oct. 3-14 as part of an overall shutout streak of 291 minutes, 13 seconds.
Sheppard, a NEWISA All-New England Third Team honoree, broke the school record with a 0.95 career GAA and finished with 16 career shutouts (tied at No. 4 on the program leaderboard).
Picicci led UNH in goals (six), game-winning goals (three), points (13) and shooting percentage (.214). On the conference leaderboard, she tied for fourth in both goals and game-winning goals, and also ranked ninth in points. Picicci's conference honors included All-Conference First Team and All-Academic Team, and she was also selected to the NEWISA Senior Bowl.
Picicci was also co-recipient of the Top Student-Athlete Award with sophomore Emily Bini (Guilderland, N.Y.).
Bini tied for the team and America East lead in assists with four, and she ranked second on the team in shots with 44. She also ranked second among UNH field players in minutes played (1,717).
The Coaches' Award was shared by grad student Casey Peterson (Round Hill, Va.) and senior Jamie Irwin (Roxbury, N.J.). The contributions of both players went well beyond statistics.
Peterson, the third captain of the 2021 squad, was a linchpin of the midfield. She played 1,702 minutes, which ranked third among UNH field players.
Irwin was a staple of the defensive unit as a first-year Wildcat. She was inserted into the starting lineup Sept. 9 and played almost every minute the rest of the season.
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 uncompromising. It is voted on by the team.
This year's recipient of the Barros Family Award is sophomore Ande Allison (Carlisle, Ohio). Allison was limited to three games in the 2021 season.
Meghan Guarente (Sewell, N.J.), a 2021 America East All-Rookie Team selection, was named the team's Most Outstanding Freshman. On the conference leaderboard, she tied for first in assists, tied for fourth in shots and ranked second in shots on goal. Guarente tied for the team lead in assists and ranked second in both goals (three) and points (10).
New Hampshire – led by head coach Steve Welham, associate head coach Amanda Bowes and assistant coach Stuart Horne – used a late-season surge, including a three-game winning streak, as a springboard to advance to the America East championship game. On the verge of the ultimate goal of advancing to the NCAA tournament, the Wildcats were edged 1-0 in the conference title game.
VIEW TEAM BANQUET GALLERY
Team Awards
MVP: Francesca Picicci, Cat Sheppard
Coaches' Award: Jamie Irwin, Casey Peterson
Barros Family Award: Ande Allison
Most Outstanding Freshman: Meghan Guarente
Top Student-Athlete Award: Emily Bini, Francesca Picicci
The MVP Award was presented to senior captains Francesca Picicci (North Massapequa, N.Y.) and Cat Sheppard (Nesconset, N.Y.).
Sheppard played every second in the 2021 season to earn credit for all eight shutouts with a 0.90 GAA and .825 save percentage. She excelled in postseason play with a 0.58 GAA, .900 save percentage and one shutout in the three America East tournament games. Late in the regular season, Sheppard recorded three consecutive clean sheets spanning Oct. 3-14 as part of an overall shutout streak of 291 minutes, 13 seconds.
Sheppard, a NEWISA All-New England Third Team honoree, broke the school record with a 0.95 career GAA and finished with 16 career shutouts (tied at No. 4 on the program leaderboard).
Picicci led UNH in goals (six), game-winning goals (three), points (13) and shooting percentage (.214). On the conference leaderboard, she tied for fourth in both goals and game-winning goals, and also ranked ninth in points. Picicci's conference honors included All-Conference First Team and All-Academic Team, and she was also selected to the NEWISA Senior Bowl.
Picicci was also co-recipient of the Top Student-Athlete Award with sophomore Emily Bini (Guilderland, N.Y.).
Bini tied for the team and America East lead in assists with four, and she ranked second on the team in shots with 44. She also ranked second among UNH field players in minutes played (1,717).
The Coaches' Award was shared by grad student Casey Peterson (Round Hill, Va.) and senior Jamie Irwin (Roxbury, N.J.). The contributions of both players went well beyond statistics.
Peterson, the third captain of the 2021 squad, was a linchpin of the midfield. She played 1,702 minutes, which ranked third among UNH field players.
Irwin was a staple of the defensive unit as a first-year Wildcat. She was inserted into the starting lineup Sept. 9 and played almost every minute the rest of the season.
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 uncompromising. It is voted on by the team.
This year's recipient of the Barros Family Award is sophomore Ande Allison (Carlisle, Ohio). Allison was limited to three games in the 2021 season.
Meghan Guarente (Sewell, N.J.), a 2021 America East All-Rookie Team selection, was named the team's Most Outstanding Freshman. On the conference leaderboard, she tied for first in assists, tied for fourth in shots and ranked second in shots on goal. Guarente tied for the team lead in assists and ranked second in both goals (three) and points (10).
New Hampshire – led by head coach Steve Welham, associate head coach Amanda Bowes and assistant coach Stuart Horne – used a late-season surge, including a three-game winning streak, as a springboard to advance to the America East championship game. On the verge of the ultimate goal of advancing to the NCAA tournament, the Wildcats were edged 1-0 in the conference title game.
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F/MF
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
B
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerSunday, October 18
Friday, October 02
Sunday, September 13
Sunday, September 06