America East Champion Women’s Soccer Ready to Defend Title in 2015

Friday, August 21

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

University of Rhode Island

Photo by: Gil Talbot

America East Champion Women’s Soccer Ready to Defend Title in 2015

8/20/2015 2:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer

DURHAM, N.H. - Second-year head coach Steve Welham and the defending America East champion University of New Hampshire women's soccer team is set to begin the 2015 season, Aug. 21 (7 p.m.), at home against the University of Rhode Island on Bremner Field.

The historic 2014 season included many firsts for the program. The Wildcats compiled an 8-9-4 record, closing out the final three games of the regular season with wins to secure the No. 3 seed for the America East Championships. Following two victories in penalty kicks, the first playoff occurrence in conference history, the 'Cats traveled to the University of Hartford, where New Hampshire defeated the Hawks 2-1 to secure their first conference championship. As the only No. 3 seed to win the league, the season continued at the NCAA Championships against the University of Connecticut for the 'Cats first-ever NCAA automatic berth.

The home opener against URI is the first of a three-game home stand for the Wildcats, which also includes the University of Massachusetts (Aug. 23; 2 p.m.) and the College of Holy Cross (Aug. 27; 7 p.m.).

Welham aims to continue his early success at the helm. With the help of assistants Amanda Webb and newly hired Sammy Boateng from Marshall University, Welham looks to expand on the organized, defensively sound, ball possession style the team has established. Webb returns to New Hampshire for her second season and continues to train the goalkeepers on a daily basis.

The Wildcats were a sound defensive team, only allowing 20 goals through 21 games (0.90 goals against average). To close out the season, the 'Cats produced a 4-1-2 record from a 1-0 result at Binghamton University (Oct. 19) all the way through the postseason run.

The team is shaped a little differently after losing 10 letterwinners following last season. The team returns 16 student-athletes and adds 13 newcomers to increase depth and youth across all positions. Seven starters remain from last season after losing four.

The senior class for the Wildcats includes returners Gabrielle Sloan (Stow, Mass.), Kirsten O'Neil (Hampton, N.H.), Caroline Murray (New Canaan, Conn.), Kellie McGoldrick (Ambler, Pa.) and Morgan Smith (Canton, Conn). O'Neil, one of three captains this year, was a staple in the back line and midfield for UNH. She appeared in all 21 games and rifled 21 shots on goal. Sloan, a tri-captain, played all 21 matches and tallied one assist during the 2014 campaign from the midfield position. Three of the five seniors logged time in the majority of games last season.

Murray is one of the Wildcats' returning offensive threats. In 2014, she started in all 21 games, and compiled two goals and five assists. She was named to the America East All-Conference Second Team and All-Championship Team as a transfer from Ohio State University.

The junior class is comprised of four returners and one transfer. Goalkeeper Mimi Borkan (Medfield, Mass.), a tri-captain, returns after a successful sophomore campaign. Joining her are classmates Lilly Radack (Madbury, N.H.), Kelsey Pratt (Milford, Mass.), Kayli Igoe (Durham, N.H.) and Caitlin Bucksbaum (Mendon, Vt.). Bucksbaum is a newcomer, who spent her first two seasons at Villanova University.

Borkan recorded a save percentage of .835 and notched nine shutouts, which tied the program record for most in a season. She was bestowed the America East Championships' Most Outstanding Player award and named a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Northeast Region Third Team.

Six sophomores return to the field, joined by three newcomers in blue and white. Mia Neas (Old Saybrook, Conn.), Jackie Feraco (Holden, Mass.), Fallon Greene (Smithfield, R.I.), Veronica Hardy (North Smithfield, R.I.), Brooke Murphy (Monson, Mass.), and Reilly Williams (Suffield, Conn.) enter their second seasons as Wildcats.

Murphy, the Wildcats leading scorer in the 2014 season, finished second in the conference with 11 goals, tied for seventh in program history for goals in a season. She was named to the America East All-Rookie Team, All-Conference Second Team, All-Championship Team, and the NSCAA All-Northeast Region Second Team.

Hardy, who started all 21 games in the back line, was also named to the America East All-Rookie Team and will look to grow in her second season at UNH.

The three additional transfers are Maggie Couett (Newfields, N.H.), Nikki Sloan (Stow, Mass.), and Kendra Prince (Ajax, Ontario). Couett comes from in-conference foe University at Albany, where she played in seven games with three starts and one goal as a freshman. Sloan, sister of Gabrielle Sloan, makes the jump from Division II Assumption College. She played in 21 games and was named to the Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team. Prince arrives to UNH from Oakland University. She recorded a goal and an assist in 19 games before joining the 'Cats this season.

Nine freshmen bolster the roster 2015 campaign. Madison MacLean (Amesbury, Mass.), Allison Boldis (Merrick, N.Y.), Sarah Haselkamp (Stratford, Conn.), Kelsey Davis (Washingtonville, N.Y.), Maggie Grigely (Simsbury, Conn.), Casey Rotti (Rutland, Mass.), Gaby Dorsey (Hubertus, Wis.), Morgan Baumgartner (Huntington Beach, Calif.), and Sydney Griffin (Hinsdale, Ill.).

"The team is excited and ready to get the 2015 season underway," said Welham. "We look forward to building on current momentum and continuing on our upward trend. The ladies are prepared, focused, and set for the journey ahead."

For the most up-to-date information on the women's soccer program, visit the new UNHWildcats.com.