FINAL SCORE: No. 1 New Hampshire 2, No. 2 Vermont 0
DURHAM, N.H. – Chris Pinkham's late first-half goal was the deciding marker as top-seeded New Hampshire (8-0-1, 5-0-1 AE) defeated second-seeded Vermont (5-2-1, 4-1-1 AE) 2-0 in the America East Men's Soccer Championship on Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium.
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"Championship games are always won on small margins," said head coach Rob Dow. "The good thing is there's only four months until we get to start this journey again. It was a blessing in disguise here, this spring, but it was the most challenging year for everyone here and in the world. This team was not excluded from that experience, but they handled it amazingly and never quit, never wavered. To be in this position we're in today was a reward in itself."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Pinkham opened the scoring in a tight, defensive opening half with his first goal of the season in the 42nd minute. The junior collected a deep ball from Sam Henneberg to hand his Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Bridger Hansen was credited with a secondary assist.
• Bjarni Adalsteinsson nearly tied the game in the 53rd minute when he launched a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box that tested Alejandro Robles (6 saves). The rookie's kick was labeled for the top right corner before it was turned away by a stretched-out Robles.
• The UNH lead doubled in the 76th minute on Victor Menudier's third goal of the conference tournament. Diego Toribio delivered the ball to Menudier on the run, and the Wildcat senior snuck a shot past Nate Silveira (3 saves). Henneberg earned his second assist of the game with the secondary helper.
• Looking to tie the game, Vermont countered with five shots in the final 10 minutes. Max Murray had a great chance in the 84th minute when he headed a cross from Zach Barrett that just missed the right woodwork. Noah Egan directed a shot on goal in the 85th minute that was swallowed up by Robles.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Adalsteinsson, Alex Nagy, and Jonathan Bryant were named to the All-Championship Team.
• Adalsteinsson had a team-high two shots on goal for Vermont. Nagy and Bryant also registered a shot on goal each.
• Murray tallied three shots for the Catamounts including a shot on goal in the 47th minute.
• Ýmir Már Geirsson also registered a shot on goal, testing Robles in the 65th minute.