DURHAM – Junior forward Eli Goldman and graduate student Tola Showunmi each scored a goal as the No. 22 nationally ranked and No. 1 seed University of New Hampshire men’s soccer team defeated No. 3 seed UAlbany, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium in the championship game of the America East Tournament.

With this win, UNH earns its fourth America East Championship and sixth consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats also won the title in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The Wildcats improve to 14-4-0, while the Great Danes finish with a record of 6-8-6.

Senior goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) was named the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for recording two shutouts for UNH in America East Tournament play. Koleilat, graduate student Johann von Knebel (Hamburg, Germany), graduate student Jamie Davis (Cheshire, England) and Goldman were named to the All-Championship Team.

The NCAA Selection Show is Monday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com. The 2022 championship field will consist of 48 teams and will take place from Nov. 17-Dec. 12. The College Cup, consisting of the national semifinals and finals will be held in Cary, North Carolina.

The Wildcats took the lead in the 19th minute (18:30) when Goldman found the back of the net off a rebound from a shot taken by Davis.

UNH struck again in the 21st minute (20:38), as senior midfielder Bilal Kamal (London, England) took a shot that was blocked by a UAlbany defender as the ball then bounced to Showunmi who blasted it to the back of net.

Koleilat made an outstanding save in the 74th minute to secure the shutout and the 2-0 win.

(Photo above courtesy of UNH Athletics/Will Fudge)

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