MEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
The second-seeded Catamounts (5-1-1, 4-1-1 AE) will face top-seeded New Hampshire (7-0-1, 5-0-1 AE) in the America East Championship on Saturday (Apr. 17) in Durham, New Hampshire. Vermont will be playing for its sixth conference title in program history. The opening kickoff at Wildcat Stadium is slated for 4 p.m. Due to campus rules, attendance is limited to UNH students only. Fans can watch the championship action live on AmericaEast.TV.
 
RELATED LINKS
Watch | Live Stats
CatamounTV – Weekly Press Conference
America East Tournament Central
 
CATS IN THE TITLE GAME
Vermont will be competing in the America East Championship for the ninth time in program history and the first time since 2015. The Catamounts own a 4-3-1 record all-time in the title game. In total, Vermont has five America East Championships, including a thrilling 1990-win that was clinched in penalty kicks. UVM's last conference title came in that 2015 championship game when Brian Wright led the Cats to a 1-0 victory over Binghamton at Virtue Field.

HOW WE GOT HERE
Alex Nagy struck in the eighth minute to lead the Catamounts over No. 3 NJIT in the America East Semifinals. Nagy's early goal came off a beautiful cross from Garrett Lillie. Nate Silveira registered his fourth shutout of the season with five saves for Vermont.
 
AS A NO. 2 SEED IN THE 'SHIP
The Catamounts are 3-2-1 all-time as the No. 2 seed in the America East Title Game and 1-2-1 when facing the No. 1 seed. UVM's penalty-kick win in 1990 was against top-seeded Boston University. Vermont's last two championships (2007, 2015) came as the No. 2 seed.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
New Hampshire carries the No. 10 national ranking in to Saturday's championship game. The United Soccer Coaches poll also has UNH ranked as the top team in the Northeast Region. The Wildcats boast the top-scoring offense in America East with a 2.50 goals per game average that ranks eighth in the country. Paul Mayer and Victor Menudier lead the UNH offense with five goals each. Menudier scored twice in the Wildcats' 2-0 semifinal victory on Thursday (Apr. 15). Goalkeeper Alejandro Robles has played in every game for UNH this season, and has posted the second-best goals against average (.514) and save percentage (.826) in the league.
 
THIS YEAR vs. UNH
Vermont and UNH have played twice this season as the top two teams in Pod A. The conference foes played to a scoreless draw in UVM's season opener down in Durham. Nate Silveira earned the shutout in goal for the Catamounts. New Hampshire took the regular season finale up in Burlington with a 2-1 victory on April 9. Bjarni Adalsteinsson registered his first collegiate goal in the second half.

AMERICA EAST AWARDS
Vermont midfielder Daniel Pacella was named America East Rookie of the Year on Wednesday (Apr. 14). The Montréal, Québec native became the sixth Catamount in program history to receive the honor, joining Rasmus Tobinski in 2019, Brian Wright in 2013, Lee Stephane Kouadio in 2005, Nick Azarian in 2000, and Troy Cowell in 1990. Pacella was also named to the All-Rookie Team and the All-Conference Second Team.  In addition to Pacella's conference honors, six more Catamounts received yearly awards. Alex Nagy and Noah Egan were named to the All-Conference First Team and Garrett Lillie joined Pacella on the All-Conference Second Team. First years Bjarni Adalsteinsson and Zach Barrett received America East All-Rookie honors with Pacella.
 
ADALSTEINSSON NAMED ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Bjarni Adalsteinsson was named America East Rookie of the Week on Tuesday (Apr. 13). The first year netted his first collegiate goal last week against No. 11 New Hampshire. He is the second Catamount to receive a weekly honor this season. Nate Silveira was named Defensive Player of the Week on March 16.