Score: #9 New Hampshire 2, UAlbany 0
 
Location: Wildcat Stadium in Durham, N.H.
 
Records: (4-3-0, 0-1-0) | New Hampshire (7-0-0, 1-0-0)
 
Short Story: UAlbany opens the 2021 America East conference schedule with a 2-0 defeat at #9 New Hampshire.
 
Key Stats

• Carlos Tofern recorded four saves
• New Hampshire outshot UAlbany 10-5, including 6-2 in the second half
• New Hampshire recorded six shots on goal, to UAlbany's one
• Saturday was the first game in the series decided by more than one goal since October 14, 2012

Head Coach Trevor Gorman: "Our team gave a committed effort tonight against one of the top teams in the country.  I was pleased with the response after Tuesday's result.  UNH away to open conference play was always going to be a good challenge.  A few decisions in the second half could have gone differently and changed the outcome.  If we can continue on as we did tonight we'll be ready to compete well in the season ahead."
 
How it Happened

• New Hampshire was unbeaten at 6-0-0 before Saturday's game, and had climbed to #9 in the United Soccer Coaches national poll.  The Wildcats also led the USC Northeast Regional Poll, where UAlbany ranked fourth.
• The Wildcats broke through early, scoring in the seventh minute when Tola Showunmi set up Rory O'Driscoll, whose shot from the shallow left side arced over UAlbany goalkeeper Carlos Tofern's head and into the far side netting.
• Austin DaSilva had a handful of chances in the first half, having a deep shot blocked in the fifth minute and then seeing a free kick from the left side rise just high over the New Hampshire crossbar.
• A serve deep into the New Hampshire box in the 73rd minute just missed Andrew Weiner's head and bounced dangerously towards the Wildcat goal off of one of their defenders.  New Hampshire goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat fell on the ball, ending the threat.
• New Hampshire scored a second goal in the 79th on a penalty kick from O'Driscoll after drawing a foul in the UAlbany box.  The Wildcats held on to win by the same score, 2-0.

Next: UAlbany returns home to host Rhode Island on September 21.