SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Sophomore defender Laurin Preuss (Kirchheim Teck, Germany) broke a 2-2 tie with the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute to lift the University of New Hampshire men’s soccer team to a 3-2 victory over ACC opponent Syracuse on Sunday afternoon before a crowd of 2,144 at SU Soccer Stadium.

The Wildcats improved to 1-1-0, while the Orange fell to 1-1-0.

UNH is now 2-0-1 all-time against Syracuse. The Wildcats earned a 3-0 victory over the defending national champion Orange in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 19, 2023, at Wildcat Stadium and played Syracuse to a 2-2 draw on Sept. 8, 2019, at SU Soccer Stadium.

All five goals were scored in the second half. Trailing 2-1 with less than 11 minutes remaining, junior forward Cabot McLaren (Sugar Hill, N.H.) netted the equalizer in the 80th minute for his first collegiate goal. Junior forward David Davila (Elkhart, Ind.) gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute with his first goal as a Wildcat.

McLaren and Davila each finished with a goal and an assist for three points. The three-point performance marked the first points of McLaren’s collegiate career.

The home-opener for the ‘Cats will be on Thursday, Aug. 27 against St. John’s at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

UNH 0, DARTMOUTH 0

DURHAM, N.H. – Senior goalkeeper Sonja Zeepvat (Mendham, N.J.) recorded her first shutout of the season with two saves as the University of New Hampshire women’s soccer team played Dartmouth to a 0-0 draw Sunday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium in the Wildcats’ home opener.

The Wildcats are now 0-1-2, while the Big Green are 1-0-1.

UNH will stay in Durham for a matchup with Rhode Island on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.

The Wildcats generated the first shot on goal of the match in the 22nd minute when senior midfielder Elizabeth Finn fired a shot from 30 yards out, but Dartmouth goalkeeper Ola Goebel made the save.

Freshman defender Molly Tufts put a free kick on target from 35 yards away in the 54th minute, but Goebel was there for the stop.

Zeepvat made her first save of the afternoon in the 75th minute, stopping a shot from Michal Cagungun aimed at the lower center of the net.

Five minutes later, Zeepvat preserved the scoreless tie with a save on a shot by Kate Ryan from 12 yards out.