FINAL SCORE (2OT): Vermont 1, No. 20 New Hampshire 1
DURHAM, N.H. – The UVM men's soccer team clinched the America East regular season crown with a 1-1 draw at 20th-ranked New Hampshire on Wednesday night. The Catamounts will be the top overall seed in the upcoming America East Tournament.
 
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UVM closes the book on the regular season with a 10-7-1 record and a 5-1-1 mark in conference play. The 2017 regular season title is the third in program history and first since 2012 for Vermont. UNH finishes the regular season at 11-2-4 overall, 4-2-1 in league play, and will be the No. 3 seed in the America East Tournament.
 
Jon Arnar Barðdal broke the scoreless tie in the 40th minute after taking advantage of a failed clear attempt by UNH's backline. Ívar Örn Árnason took a free kick from the left side of the field where a Wildcat defender tried to clear the feed away in the box, but squibbed the kick. The ball bounced right to Barðdal and the sophomore fired the go-ahead score between the legs of UNH goalie Andrew Pesci (1 save).
 
New Hampshire answered on its ensuing possession 17 seconds later. Conrad Cheng attempted a shot from the left side of the box and got a lucky deflection off a Vermont defender after the ball bounced off the turf. 
 
UVM keeper Aron Runarsson (5 saves) came up with a big save in the 43rd minute. From the right side of the box, Dante Lamb ripped a line drive towards the near post but Runarsson dove to his left and knocked the shot away with his glove.
 
In the first overtime, Runarsson made another clutch stop at point-blank range to keep the 1-1 tie in-check. On a New Hampshire corner kick, Robin Schmidt leaped up for a header in front of the net but Runarsson slapped the potential game-winner over the crossbar.
 
Vermont will get a first-round bye in the America East Tournament. The Cats will host the winner of No. 4 Albany and No. 5 UMBC on Wednesday (Nov. 8) at Virtue Field in the America East Semifinal. The opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or at the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office on gameday. Free live video will be available in HD at AmericaEast.TV.