DURHAM, N.H. - The UNH Wildcats are once again America East Soccer champions. The top seed got a late first-half goal and held second-seeded Vermont scoreless en route to a 2-0 win in the Spring 2021 conference title game on Saturday evening at UNH’s Wildcat Stadium.
With the win, New Hampshire became the first #AEMSOC team to win three consecutive titles since UMBC accomplished the from 2013-15 and just the third overall. The Wildcats earned the conference’s automatic bid to the Spring 2021 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship, their fourth-straight appearance, and will learn their draw during the selection show on Monday, April 19 at 12 p.m. on NCAA.com
Victor Menudier was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after scoring three times in UNH’s two games, including a second-half score in the title game
UNH, the 10th ranked team in the nation, controlled play in the first half outshooting Vermont, 6-2. The Wildcats broke through late in the half as Bridger Hansen served the ball into the box and Sam Hennnberg touched it to Chris Pinkham, who sent it home with just 3:54 left in the stanza.
The Wildcats (8-0-1) added to their lead in the 76th minute when Menudier tapped home a pass from Diego Toribio to give his team a 2-0 advantage.
Vermont (5-2-1) held a 9-3 shot advantage in the second half but Robles, the two-time #AEMSOC Goalkeeper of the Year, made five of his six saves in the period. He was an All-Championship selection.
Menudier and Robles were joined on the All-Championship team by Henneberg, who had two assists Saturday and along with teammate Yannick Bright. Alex Nagy, Vermont’s goalscorer in its semifinal win over NJIT, was one of three Catamount selections along with Bjarni Adalsteinsson and Jonathan Bryant. Hartford’s Nick Benjamin and Tomer Drimmer and NJIT’s Jose Adames and Joao Costa rounded out the team.
UNH’s Michael Clow earned the championship’s Elite 18 Award for having the highest GPA among student-athletes competing in the championship game. The junior carries a 3.64 GPA majoring in business administration and finance.
Visit Championship Central for box scores, highlights and recaps from each round in addition to team tournament history and more.
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