China Wong ’18

Winning Streaks

n April, the UNH men’s soccer team became just the third program in America East history to win three consecutive championship titles, besting the University of Vermont Catamounts, 2-0, at home April 17. In a shortened and somewhat unconventional season that was moved from fall to spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNH put up a 6-0-1 regular season record and made quick work of its America East tournament opponents, shutting out first the University of Hartford and then UVM at Wildcat Stadium.

The win secured the 10th-ranked Wildcats their fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division 1 soccer tournament in a field that was cut from 48 to 36 teams because of the pandemic. After earning a first-round bye, the Durham ’Cats faced the Wildcats of the University of Kentucky, coming out on the short end of a 2-0 game on May 2. The team concluded its season with a .850 winning percentage — a school record.

Peter Souris

Not to be outdone, on April 25, the UNH swimming and diving team set a record of its own, securing a high-water-mark ninth America East conference championship and winning 15 of the 18 events held over the course of the three-day championship. Finishing with a dominant 817 points to runner-up University of Maryland-Baltimore County’s 621.5, UNH led all three days of competition, with 252 points after day one and 536 points after the second day of action.

The ’Cats winning ways stretch back to 1998, when the team secured its first America East title. That win was followed by titles in 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2020. Before earning its eighth championship in 2020, the Wildcats were tied with the University of Maryland-Baltimore County for tops among America East teams with seven championships apiece.