The UConn women’s soccer team used an offensive explosion where four different players scored to defeat Siena 5-0 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. (Amar Batra/The Daily Campus)
The UConn women’s soccer team used an offensive explosion where four different players scored to defeat Siena 5-0 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium on Sunday.
“Our chemistry was great,” junior UConn forward Rachel Hill said. “We moved the ball around really well today. It was a great team win.”
The Huskies wasted no time getting going in their 30th NCAA tournament appearance, as they were able to score on their first shot attempt of the game.
In the 11th minute, junior UConn forward Stephanie Ribeiro received a pass from Rachel Hill on the right side of the box and deposited the ball into the far side of the net to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.
Just five minutes later, Hill got on the board. Hill controlled a great through ball from Samantha McGuire that she was able to chip into the net.
In the 23rd minute, UConn added another goal when Kim Urbanek found the back of the net following a poor touch by a Siena defender on a rebound.
The Huskies carried the momentum of a three-goal lead into the half but they did not let up. In the second half, the domination from the first half continued.
Annie Wickett was able to score her first goal of her career in the 56th minute to give UConn a 4-0 lead. In the 70th minute Ribeiro scored her second goal of the game to push the lead to 5-0.
While the UConn offense was outstanding today, they were also strong defensively. They limited Siena to just one-shot attempt, which did not come until the 75th minute of the game.
“We worked as a group,” Wickett said. “We did everything we could to make sure they didn’t get shots, or good chances on frame. We just work for each other, we cover each other, and if we make a mistake we make up for the other person. We just hold strong.
With the victory the Huskies advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament where they will play Notre Dame. After such a strong performance, the confidence level is high for UConn.
“It definitely feels good going in to play Notre Dame,” Ribeiro said. “Hopefully in practice and everything we keep working hard and give them a good game.”
Spencer Mayfield is a staff writer for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at spencer.mayfield@uconn.edu. He tweets @SpenceMayfield.
