DURHAM – Junior forward Eli Goldman and senior midfielder Bilal Kamal each scored for the Wildcats a goal as the University of New Hampshire men’s soccer team defeated Seton Hall, 2-1, on Thursday night at Wildcat Stadium in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

With this win, UNH advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the last six seasons.

The Wildcats improve to 15-4-0, while the Pirates finish the season at 7-4-7. 

The Wildcats will play in the second round of the NCAA Tournament versus Florida International on Sunday at 6 p.m. at the FIU Soccer Stadium in Miami, Fla. These two teams met for the first time ever earlier this season as UNH won 3-0 at Wildcat Stadium on Sept. 10. 

The Wildcats struck early in the fourth minute (3:08) when graduate student midfielder Jamie Davis (Cheshire, England) crossed the ball from the left side of the goal to graduate student forward Tola Showunmi (Enfield, England) who headed the ball towards goal. Goldman then fired a one-timer that was saved but he then collected the rebound and sent the ball to the back of the net (pictured above)

Kamal, who has two game-winning goals this season and five for his career, added to the lead in the ninth minute (8:27) when he blasted the ball to the back of the net off a far throw-in by graduate student back Chris Pinkham of Concord. 

In the 12th minute (11:05), Konstantin Donalies scored for the Pirates off a header at the far post from a corner kick by Johannes Pex.

The Wildcats outshot the Pirates, 13-12, while UNH took five shots on goal and held Seton Hall to two. 

Koleilat recorded one save, while Hannes Ronnholmen of Seton Hall had three. 

The Wildcats took five corner kicks, while the Pirates had nine.

This was the first-ever meeting between the Wildcats and Pirates.

(Photo above of Goldman’s goal courtesy of Jess Speechley/UNH Athleteics)