Historic season ends: UNH falls short at No. 1 Oregon State in NCAA men's soccer tournament

Special to Seacoastonline and Fosters.com
·2 min read

CORVALLIS, Oregon — The University of New Hampshire men's soccer team's season came to an end with a 1-0 loss to No. 1-ranked Oregon State in the NCAA tournament's round of 16 Sunday night.

Mouhameth St. Thiam scored the game winner for the Beavers against the Wildcats at Paul Lorenz Field in the first meeting between the teams.

Oregon State improves to 14-2-3 and advances to the quarterfinal round for the first time in program history and will take on No. 8 Clemson.

Johann von Knebel, left, of the 16th-seeded University of New Hampshire heads the battle against host No. 1 Oregon State in an NCAA men's soccer tournament round of 16 match Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. OSU defeated UNH, 1-0, to advance to the quarterfinal round.
Johann von Knebel, left, of the 16th-seeded University of New Hampshire heads the battle against host No. 1 Oregon State in an NCAA men's soccer tournament round of 16 match Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. OSU defeated UNH, 1-0, to advance to the quarterfinal round.

The Wildcats concluded the season at 17-2-2, falling one win shy of their first appearance in the quarterfinal round. UNH’s 17 wins is a school record. The Wildcats received a first-round bye in the tournament and defeated the University of North Carolina 4-1 to advance to the round of 16.

Previous story: UNH men's soccer beats North Carolina

Oregon State took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute (9:06) when St. Thiam scored on a breakaway off a long pass by Tsiki Ntsabeleng.

UNH's Bridger Hansen, who scored a bicycle kick goal in the win over North Carolina, struck a shot against Oregon State that hit the crossbar about 18 minutes into the match.

Bilal Kamal of the 16th-seeded University of New Hampshire dribbles past a defender against host No. 1 Oregon State in an NCAA men's soccer tournament round of 16 match Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. OSU defeated UNH, 1-0, to advance to the quarterfinal round.
Bilal Kamal of the 16th-seeded University of New Hampshire dribbles past a defender against host No. 1 Oregon State in an NCAA men's soccer tournament round of 16 match Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. OSU defeated UNH, 1-0, to advance to the quarterfinal round.

In the 30th minute, UNH junior goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat made a big save on a shot by St. Thiam that was going to the left corner of the net to keep the score at 1-0.

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UNH outshot Oregon State, 11-7, while each team took three shots on goal. UNH took seven corner kicks, while OSU had six.

Rory O'Driscoll of the 16th-seeded University of New Hampshire controls the ball against host No. 1 Oregon State in an NCAA men's soccer tournament round of 16 match Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. OSU defeated UNH, 1-0, to advance to the quarterfinal round.
Rory O'Driscoll of the 16th-seeded University of New Hampshire controls the ball against host No. 1 Oregon State in an NCAA men's soccer tournament round of 16 match Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. OSU defeated UNH, 1-0, to advance to the quarterfinal round.

Koleilat saved two shots for the 'Cats, while Adrian Fernandez saved three for OSU.

UNH made its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance and fifth straight. The Wildcats outscored opponents 47-10 this season.

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: UNH falls short at No. 1 Oregon State in NCAA men's soccer tournament