University of New Hampshire Athletics
UNH Welcomes Six Incoming Freshmen for 2018
2/26/2018 2:21:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Wildcats look to continue their success with new additions.
DURHAM, N.H – After finishing the season with the #1 seed in America East, and setting or tying new milestones in program wins, the University of New Hampshire women's soccer team is getting ready for the 2018 season with six new additions to the roster.
The Wildcats are coming off a banner season, as the 2017 America East Regular Season Champions and the #1 seed in the America East Tournament, a feat they haven't reached since 2007. At 11 total wins, the second highest in program history, the Wildcats also posted their best non-conference record in program history at 6-3-0, on their way to their first five-win season since 2008 (5-2-1) their fourth straight playoff appearance with three of them being at least semi-final appearances (2014 America East Tournament Champions).
Last week the Wildcats inked six new players to the 2018 roster:
Julie Cane
Midfielder/Forward
Titusville, N.J.
High School: Hopewell Valley Central High School
Club: PDA South Pride NPL
National Honor Society
United Soccer Coaches High School All-American - 2017
United Soccer Coaches High School State Player of the Year – New Jersey, 2017
All-State Midfielder of the Year
Coach Welham on Cane: "Pace, power, and physical strength are only three of many key components to Julie's game. Not only is she coming off a wonderful senior year but we feel she also has tremendous upside as a player. We are very excited to see her contribute to our team in a variety of positions."
Alyssa Di Lorenzo
Defender/Forward
Floral Park, N.Y.
High School: Floral Park Memorial High School
Club: Albertson Fury ECNL
Four-Year Starter – Varsity Soccer
Three-Year Captain – Varsity Soccer
NCGSCA Defensive Player of the Year – 2016
NCGSCA All Conference – 2015
Albertson Fury Defensive Player of the Year - 2015
Four-Sport Varsity Athlete (Soccer, Basketball, Track, Lacrosse)
Coach Welham on Di Lorenzo: "Alyssa comes to us from Alberston Fury (one of the top club programs in the country) where she is coached by Paul Riley. Her athleticism, pace and dynamic ability are just three aspects that come to mind when I watch Alyssa play. She is a very versatile player and can factor in several positions."
Halle Hamilton
Defender
Londonderry, N.H.
High School: Londonderry Senior High School
Club: FC Boston ECNL
National Honor Society
Foreign Language National Honor Society
Four-Year Starter – Varsity Soccer
Varsity Soccer Captain – 2016, 2017
Union Leader D1 Player to Watch – 2014-15
Coach Welham on Hamilton: "Halle is a strong, capable, shutdown defender that can factor in our backline. We are excited to continue her development and we are really looking forward to all of her contributions in a Wildcat jersey. It is also very nice to keep one of New Hampshire's top prospects home."
Anna Johnston
Goalkeeper
Arlington Heights, Ill.
High School: Saint Viator High School
Club: Sockers FC ECNL
Varsity Soccer Captain—2016, 2017
ESCC Goal Keeper of the Year—2016
ECNL North American Cup Champions—2015
US Club Soccer National Finals—2013
Coach Welham on Johnston:
"Anna possesses a great presence in goal… she has the size and strength, range and leadership capabilities to be a top goalkeeper. Anna commands her six box very well which is crucial for any high-level goalkeeper. She will compete with our goalkeeping core right away."
Samantha Lopez
Midfielder
Sterling Heights, Mich.
High School: Stevenson High School
Club: Michigan Hawks ECNL/Development Academy
ECNL U17 National Championship - 2017
ECNL Semifinals - 2015
Two-sport Varsity Athlete – Soccer, Basketball
Coach Welham on Lopez: "Vision, dynamic play and technical ability along with her speed and quickness is what I think of when I watch Sami play. She is another versatile player that we are excited about. Sami's pedigree is one of a high level and she was instrumental with helping her club team win a National Championship."
Cat Sheppard
Goalkeeper
Nesconset, N.Y.
High School: Smithtown East High School
Club: East Meadow Hotspur ECNL
National Honor Society
Math Honor Society
Three-Year Varsity Soccer Starter
Varsity Soccer Captain – 2017
Club Soccer Captain - 2017
All-Suffolk County - 2017
Coach Welham on Sheppard: "Cat is an extremely athletic and talented goalkeeper…her quick reactions, range and shot-stopping ability put her at the highest levels. We are really excited for her future contributions and she will compete with our goalkeeping core right away."
Coach Welham on the 2018 freshman class: "Overall, we are very pleased with this class and we very much look forward to their contributions on and off the field in the next four years. Not only are they all very talented soccer players, more importantly, they are great students and wonderful people…all three being the key ingredients that make up a UNH Women's Soccer student-athlete. We are thrilled to officially welcome them to Wildcat Country."
UNH has now won two conference championships (2014 and 2017) in the last four seasons and are returning 19 letter winners for the Fall of 2018.
The Wildcats are coming off a banner season, as the 2017 America East Regular Season Champions and the #1 seed in the America East Tournament, a feat they haven't reached since 2007. At 11 total wins, the second highest in program history, the Wildcats also posted their best non-conference record in program history at 6-3-0, on their way to their first five-win season since 2008 (5-2-1) their fourth straight playoff appearance with three of them being at least semi-final appearances (2014 America East Tournament Champions).
Last week the Wildcats inked six new players to the 2018 roster:
Julie Cane
Midfielder/Forward
Titusville, N.J.
High School: Hopewell Valley Central High School
Club: PDA South Pride NPL
National Honor Society
United Soccer Coaches High School All-American - 2017
United Soccer Coaches High School State Player of the Year – New Jersey, 2017
All-State Midfielder of the Year
Coach Welham on Cane: "Pace, power, and physical strength are only three of many key components to Julie's game. Not only is she coming off a wonderful senior year but we feel she also has tremendous upside as a player. We are very excited to see her contribute to our team in a variety of positions."
Alyssa Di Lorenzo
Defender/Forward
Floral Park, N.Y.
High School: Floral Park Memorial High School
Club: Albertson Fury ECNL
Four-Year Starter – Varsity Soccer
Three-Year Captain – Varsity Soccer
NCGSCA Defensive Player of the Year – 2016
NCGSCA All Conference – 2015
Albertson Fury Defensive Player of the Year - 2015
Four-Sport Varsity Athlete (Soccer, Basketball, Track, Lacrosse)
Coach Welham on Di Lorenzo: "Alyssa comes to us from Alberston Fury (one of the top club programs in the country) where she is coached by Paul Riley. Her athleticism, pace and dynamic ability are just three aspects that come to mind when I watch Alyssa play. She is a very versatile player and can factor in several positions."
Halle Hamilton
Defender
Londonderry, N.H.
High School: Londonderry Senior High School
Club: FC Boston ECNL
National Honor Society
Foreign Language National Honor Society
Four-Year Starter – Varsity Soccer
Varsity Soccer Captain – 2016, 2017
Union Leader D1 Player to Watch – 2014-15
Coach Welham on Hamilton: "Halle is a strong, capable, shutdown defender that can factor in our backline. We are excited to continue her development and we are really looking forward to all of her contributions in a Wildcat jersey. It is also very nice to keep one of New Hampshire's top prospects home."
Anna Johnston
Goalkeeper
Arlington Heights, Ill.
High School: Saint Viator High School
Club: Sockers FC ECNL
Varsity Soccer Captain—2016, 2017
ESCC Goal Keeper of the Year—2016
ECNL North American Cup Champions—2015
US Club Soccer National Finals—2013
Coach Welham on Johnston:
"Anna possesses a great presence in goal… she has the size and strength, range and leadership capabilities to be a top goalkeeper. Anna commands her six box very well which is crucial for any high-level goalkeeper. She will compete with our goalkeeping core right away."
Samantha Lopez
Midfielder
Sterling Heights, Mich.
High School: Stevenson High School
Club: Michigan Hawks ECNL/Development Academy
ECNL U17 National Championship - 2017
ECNL Semifinals - 2015
Two-sport Varsity Athlete – Soccer, Basketball
Coach Welham on Lopez: "Vision, dynamic play and technical ability along with her speed and quickness is what I think of when I watch Sami play. She is another versatile player that we are excited about. Sami's pedigree is one of a high level and she was instrumental with helping her club team win a National Championship."
Cat Sheppard
Goalkeeper
Nesconset, N.Y.
High School: Smithtown East High School
Club: East Meadow Hotspur ECNL
National Honor Society
Math Honor Society
Three-Year Varsity Soccer Starter
Varsity Soccer Captain – 2017
Club Soccer Captain - 2017
All-Suffolk County - 2017
Coach Welham on Sheppard: "Cat is an extremely athletic and talented goalkeeper…her quick reactions, range and shot-stopping ability put her at the highest levels. We are really excited for her future contributions and she will compete with our goalkeeping core right away."
Coach Welham on the 2018 freshman class: "Overall, we are very pleased with this class and we very much look forward to their contributions on and off the field in the next four years. Not only are they all very talented soccer players, more importantly, they are great students and wonderful people…all three being the key ingredients that make up a UNH Women's Soccer student-athlete. We are thrilled to officially welcome them to Wildcat Country."
UNH has now won two conference championships (2014 and 2017) in the last four seasons and are returning 19 letter winners for the Fall of 2018.
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