 "Photo: Mike Ralph/Staff Photographer")
There’s something about college sports that can’t be found at any other level. You have the talent that isn’t there in high school competition, and the fans’ deep connection and devotion to a team that is unmatched in professional sports.
It is this unique connection between athlete and spectator that makes college sports so special. The kid that scores 30 goals in a season on the Whittemore Center ice or throws 15 touchdowns at Cowell Stadium is not a millionaire; he’s a college student just like everyone else here at the U. The UNH athletic teams truly are “our” teams.
The 2009-2010 season of Wildcat athletics gave the fans plenty of exciting games. The men’s hockey team made those who left games early regret it, as they came back from three-goal deficits in the third period on four separate occasions. Perhaps the most exciting comeback of all came in the final regular season home game against Hockey East rival Boston College, in which the ‘Cats scored three third-period goals to tie the Eagles and clinch the Hockey East regular season title.
On the gridiron, the UNH football team put on some impressive performances as well. The CAA North Division champs went undefeated at home, highlighted by a 44-14 beatdown of in-state rival Dartmouth, a 27-24 edging over Maine, and the game of the year on Homecoming against a Villanova team ranked second in the nation.
Over 14,000 fans packed Cowell Stadium to see the matchup of top-10 teams, the largest crowd of the season. UNH led by a slim margin for much of the game, until CAA Player of the Year Matt Szczur scored to give ‘Nova the lead midway through the third. The ‘Cats battled back, however, after two Tom Manning field goals gave them a 28-24 lead, one they would not relinquish. Villanova went on to win the Football Championship Subdivision national championship, with the UNH game being their only defeat of the season.
The 2010 football season will feature some exciting matchups as well. For the second straight year the ‘Cats will host a CAA powerhouse on Homecoming when the Richmond Spiders come to town Oct. 9, just two years removed from a national championship.
UNH will also have the change to play on New England’s biggest stage when they take on perennial rival UMass on Oct. 23 at Gillette Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots.
So needless to say this year should be another exciting year for Wildcat sports fans.
Football, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, cross country, and volleyball all kick off right at the start of the school year, each with a full slate of home games. The start of the hockey season follows shortly after, as both the men’s and women’s teams host their first games in early October. And with the basketball teams tipping off in mid-November, and the rest of the winter sports (skiing, track & field and gymnastics) all beginning their seasons in January, there truly is a sport for everyone to enjoy.
What makes going to games even better is that every home UNH contest, regardless of sport, is free for all students. With the exception of men’s hockey, all students need to do is show their UNH ID card to get into games.
Because of the overwhelming popularity of hockey, students must pick up their free ticket at the ticket office when they go on sale earlier in the week. This trip is well worth it, however, as there are few experiences more exhilarating than watching a UNH Wildcats hockey game surrounded by 6,500 other screaming fans, many of them fellow students.
Sports are an integral part of any university, and you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t make UNH sports a part of your collegiate experience.
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