Photo: Brian Jenkins / America East
The women’s cross country team made a run for the record books in October, taking home its fourth-straight America East championship. Elinor Purrier ’17 set a new America East championship meet record, covering the 5 kilometer course in 16:27.1. Meg Champagne ’20 and Hannah Kimball ’17 placed sixth and ninth, respectively. It’s the second America East cross country championship title in three years for Purrier, who sat out last fall’s cross country season. In combination with winter and spring track, the standout runner has now won her last 10 America East championship races. In the men’s cross country championship race, the Wildcats placed fourth, paced by Timothy Keneflick ’18 and Brett Hoerner ’19.
Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams made a bid for America East titles, as well. The women’s team ended a 7-9-3 season with a nailbiting 0-1 semifinal round loss to the University at Albany (New York). The Wildcats nearly tied the game on a Kendra Prince ’19 header at the buzzer, but the clock ran out while the ball was still in the air. The men’s team finished its season at home with an America East quarterfinal loss, falling to the University of Hartford 1-2. Capping a strong 12-7-0 season, the ’Cats may still earn an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
The field hockey team traveled to California for its America East championship series, as the third-seeded East division team. Though the Wildcats took an early lead on a goal by Lindsey Nerbonne ’17, they fell to host school University of the Pacific 2-4. The volleyball team finished its regular season with an 18-10 record and the number-one seed for America East Tournament play began at home on Nov. 18.
Originally published in UNH Magazine Winter 2017 Issue
