 "Photo: Brent Doscher")
While the debate wages on over whether it is hockey season or football season here at UNH, allow me to throw an alternative into the mix. In case you hadn't heard, and judging by the attendance at games this season most of you haven't, your UNH Wildcats women's soccer team is good. Really good in fact. Luckily for the masses of you that have missed out this season's exciting action, you have a chance to redeem yourself and your fan hood, and it couldn't come at a better time.
This Saturday at Bremner Field (12 p.m.) the team squares off against conference foe Boston University in the biggest game of them all, the America East Conference Championship. The two teams played out to a thrilling 0-0 tie in double over time earlier this season and the grudge match is arguably the biggest game in UNH women's soccer history. The team has only reached this level of success once before and that was back in 1998 when the 'Cats also made the championship game but came up just short on the road against a powerhouse Hartford team.
Saturday's game already has one distinct difference, and it makes it much easier for all you to come out and show your support. The 'Cats 10-6-2 record, including a league best 6-1 mark in conference play, was good enough to earn them a share of the regular season title.
More importantly it gave the Wildcats the #1 seed in the tournament, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. That's right, for the first time in school history we will host the America East Women's Soccer championship game.
Then there's also the minor detail that the winner of this game receives an automatic bid to the NCAA women's soccer playoffs.
Trust me when I tell you these girls can play. They play hard and they play fast. They can grind out a 1-0 win if that's the way things are going, and they can just as easily put three or four goals on the board in a shootout. They play great defense and move the ball well, they are the perfect embodiment of what it is to be a team. Most importantly they play the game the right way.
Now I'll give it to you, soccer has never really been the thing to watch in these here United States. It doesn't carry the distinct honor of being our Nation's pastime like baseball, have the big hits of football, or the photo finish and adrenaline of a 200 mph crash in NASCAR.
But don't let that fool you. When soccer is played the right way, it is a beautiful thing to watch, and these girls have played about as well as you can this season. They play the game with a pure sense of joy, mixed with an intense love and passion for their sport, and believe me when I say you are cheating yourself if you don't give this game a shot.
But onto the game.
The team is led by Wildcat junior Michelle Sheehan, who tied for the top spot in the conference in both goals (9) and points (20) and was recently named America East Striker of the Year.
Also commanding a great deal of respect for the 'Cats is junior forward Caitlin Whelan, who just earned the honor of America East Midfielder of the Year.
Unfortunately for the Wildcats enter the game without the services of senior Marianne Rivard, a steady force for the team throughout the season, who is out with an undisclosed injury.
The 'Cats come into the rematch as the conferences resident offensive powerhouse, leading America East teams in both goals per game and assists per game.
They'll need it against a Terrier team who holds the other piece of the regular season championship and is the #2 seed in the tournament.
The Terriers pose a great challenge to the 'Cats, owning the #1 defense statistically in the tournament. Coming into the contest, the Terriers are only allowing one goal every two games. It's the classic unstoppable force meets the immovable object match-up.
But the 'Cats can play defense too. The team was third in the conference this season in goals against average at .83 goals a game, posting shut out wins over 10 of the 19 teams they faced this season.
So why not give these girls a chance to win your hearts over for one afternoon? The Sox are done, the Patriots are on a bye, our football team is away at UMass, and hockey doesn't play till later that night. This is your school's team. They play this game for you, for the glory of your alma mater.
If any team has earned some love so far this season, it's them.
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