On Thursday, Oct. 31, the University of New Hampshire Wildcats took on the University of Maine Black Bears at home for their final match of the regular season. Maine took the opening kickoff, and early in the first half, UNH kept good pressure on Maine’s back line. Both teams played a physical game, with long runs staying on their opponent’s half of the pitch.
UNH goalkeeper Sally Rainey recorded several saves early in the first half, including a stop on a well-directed volley off a corner kick. Over the course of the game, Rainey faced seven shots on goal from Maine and saved six. Meanwhile, UNH produced three shots on goal on the opposite side of the field.
In the 24th minute, Maine midfielder Kristina Kelly was awarded a penalty kick after a foul in the UNH penalty box. Maine striker Abby Kraemer converted the penalty kick, and this was all Maine needed to win, as neither team would find the back of the goal in the remainder of the game. On the back of Kraemer’s penalty kick, the Black Bears would win 1-0.
UNH, midfielder Abbi Maier, forward Elaina Grenz, and defender Giovanna Castorina each recorded shots on goal in the loss. Rainey shined in net, making several athletic saves to keep the Wildcats game as competitive as it was.
While falling short in a close game, the Wildcats showed a strong fight and promise moving into postseason play. The sideline was loud, and the players on the field played an equally loud, physical game. In the final minutes, UNH nearly converted on several attempts, and played with an urgency that wasn’t always noticeable in the middle of the match.
UNH finished the 2024 regular season with an 11-4-1 overall record and a 6-2 mark in America East play, and maintains the lead in the all-time Border War record against the Black Bears, 19-16-4. Thursday’s loss marked the Wildcats’ first against Maine since Sept. 27, 2018.
In his eleven seasons at UNH, Women’s Soccer Head Coach Steve Welham has tried to instill in his athletes the importance of appreciating the fleeting moments that come with playing at such a high level.
“Time is short; it goes very quick. Something I have really tried to give to each team is telling them to just enjoy the journey,” said Welham. “There is so much to get sucked into while you’re playing and training, but the biggest part is just enjoying your life. It is great to win, to lift a trophy. But attitude, culture, those are everything and those are amazing.”
Entering the postseason, Welham and his team are reminded of last year’s first-round exit in the America East tournament.
“Obviously, we wanted that one back,” Welham said. “We need to be playing our best. We’re peaking at the right time, and we are taking in every moment, but the margin of error is so much smaller at this level. One opportunity can make a huge difference, and we need to take those. But at the same time, they’ve [the players] all been playing at this level for so long. They know that. We play the game, not the occasion.”
Welham’s impact and leadership to the team was clear Thursday night. From the first huddle to the last whistle, on the sideline and in the middle of the field, the team’s culture of living up to and absorbing every moment was palpable. The Wildcats are more than prepared to rise to the challenges that come with the postseason–it just takes creating and seizing the opportunities to win
UNH will play No. 3 ranked Binghamton Bearcats Nov. 7 at Wildcat Stadium at 6 p.m.
