ORONO, Maine – Graduate student Ricshya Walker (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored for the Wildcats, but the No. 5 seed University of New Hampshire women’s soccer team fell to No. 4 seed Maine, 2-1, in the First Round of the America East Championship on Sunday at New Balance Soccer Complex in the Border Battle Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings.  

Maine advances to the semifinals and will play at No. 1 seed Binghamton on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m.

The ‘Cats conclude the season at 4-6-7, while the Black Bears improve to 5-7-3.   

 

America East Championship First Round

Score: #4 Maine 2, #5 New Hampshire 1

Records: UNH (4-6-7); Maine (5-7-3)  

Location: Orono, Maine (New Balance Soccer Complex) 

Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025 

Attendance: 390

BOXSCORE

 

 
HOW IT HAPPENED: 
 

The Wildcats recorded the first shot on goal of the game when senior Elaina Grenz (River Edge, N.J.) sent a shot from eight yards that was saved by Elena Barenberg in the third minute.
Gillian Rovers took a shot from 20 yards, but junior Sonja Zeepvat (Mendham, N.J.) was at the left post to make the save in the 24th minute to keep the game scoreless.
The Wildcats went up 1-0 when Walker fired a one-timer from 16 yards out that deflected off Barenberg and went to the back of the net. Senior Abbi Maier (Cincinnati, Ohio) sent the through ball to Walker to post the assist on the goal.
The Black Bears tied the contest, just one minute after the start of the second half (46:00) when Jordane Pinette one-timed a shot from six yards out that ricocheted off the woodwork and over the goal line.
Maine took a 2-1 lead in the 67th minute (66:30) as Rovers tipped a shot by Madison Michaud to the back of the net.
The Wildcats earned a strong scoring opportunity in the 83rd minute when Maier sent a through ball to junior Natalie Zibinskas (Kensington, N.H.) who took a shot that was going to the right side of the net, but Barenberg was there to make the save.
The Wildcats were unable to find the equalizer for the 2-1 final score.

 

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 


Maine outshot UNH, 21-10, while the Black Bears took nine shots on goal and the Wildcats recorded four.
The Black Bears attempted five corner kicks and the Wildcats took two.
Zeepvat posted seven saves, while Barenberg made three.