The UNH men's soccer team finished up as the nation's ninth ranked team. (Courtesy photo by China Wong/UNH Athletics)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of New Hampshire men’s soccer team is ranked No. 9 in the final United Soccer Coaches National Poll of the season. This is the program’s highest national ranking in the final poll. This is the fourth season out of the last five years that UNH has been ranked in the final poll as the Wildcats were No. 14 in 2017, No. 22 in 2019 and No. 19 in 2020.

UNH concluded its historic 2021 season with a record of 17-2-2 (7-0-1 America East). The Wildcats set program records for wins (17) and winning percentage (.857). The previous record for wins was 15 (1994 and 2019), while the previous best for winning percentage was .850 (2020).

The Wildcats advanced to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history, falling at No. 1 seed Oregon State, 1-0. UNH earned the No. 16 seed and received a first-round bye in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season and defeated North Carolina, 4-1, in the second round at Wildcat Stadium.

UNH tallied its highest national ranking in program history in the United Soccer Coaches Poll at No. 4 on Oct. 12, 2021. UNH went undefeated overall in the regular season for the second straight time with a 15-0-2 record. The Wildcats won the America East Regular Season Championship for the third consecutive season with a 7-0-1 mark.

The Wildcats outscored their opposition, 47-10, as their plus 37 goal differential was second in the country. UNH led the nation with a .466 team goals against average. The Wildcats’ .857 winning percentage was fifth in the country, while their 47 goals were ranked 10th.

Sophomore midfielder Yannick Bright (Milan, Italy), graduate student back Adam Savill (Manchester, England) and senior forward Tola Showunmi (Enfield, England) earned All-America accolades. Bright and Savill were named to the first team, while Showunmi was on the third team. This was the first time in program history that UNH had three All-America selections and the first time that the Wildcats had two first team members. Bright was named the America East Midfielder of the Year, Savill won the America East Defender of the Year and Showunmi earned the America East Striker of the Year.

Bright and Savill were semifinalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy marking the first time in school history that the team had two semifinalists for the most prestigious award in college soccer.

The coaching staff of head coach Marc Hubbard, associate head coach Rich Weinrebe, assistant coach Joe Dincecco and goalkeeper coach David Williams were named the NCAA Division I Northeast Region Staff of the Year and the America East Staff of the Year.