File Photo/The Daily Campus
The Huskies came close to defeating the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, but couldn’t quite finish the game. With two back-to-back plays, upperclassmen Samantha Courtemanche and Madeline Bromley brought the game to a close for the Chanticleers, securing the win.
UConn (1-7) gained its first lead within 3:34 from the end of the game, yet the outcome did not end in their favor. The Chanticleers (4-2) beat the Huskies in an intense and aggressive one-point battle (14-15). The Huskies were led by Sydney Watson who contributed five goals, nine steals and secured nine draw controls. The Huskies had a slow start to the game, but following Coastal Carolina’s 3-0 run to open the game, Watson scored 2 unassisted goals within a 25-second time span.
“In this game, I feel like I was able to execute knowing I was supported through the highs and lows. My teammates were able to open driving lanes for me, which I was able to work off of,” Watson said.
Caitlin Leary was another standout player for the Huskies as the second leading scorer, at three goals and attempts at conversions on the offensive end with four steals. Overall, the team’s shooting percentage was low, at 44 percent, yet their opponent wasn’t too far ahead at 48 percent. The low shooting percentages, in this game prove that neither team was willing to give up points and every possession had to be worked for.
“We worked really hard the entire game with some ups and downs, but we kept positive and a good demeanor no matter what the score was throughout the game. In the end it happened to be some execution mishaps. They happened to get the last few shots off and props to them. They also played a really great game,” said Watson.
Success for the Huskies is no longer a matter of winning or losing, but improving on their overall game. So, this loss to Coastal Carolina helped them gain insight as to where they are at this point in the season.
“We have a great team with amazing players win or lose,” Watson explained. “We just have to figure out the smaller bits and pieces of the game to execute. We have proved we can score, that we can cause turnovers, transition, win the ball back, make clutch saves and win draws. But it’ll just be putting all of the positives together and riding those highs through the game.”
Watson described the work put forth in practice compared to what spectators see. While Watson explained that the team works hard and puts forth their best effort in practice, she described their style of deciding what to practice, which is everything.
The Huskies focus on maintaining their strengths and getting better at them and pushing through the team’s weaknesses. The practice with a holistic view of the game rather than pick out aspects of a given performance against a team, such as Coastal Carolina.
A feeling of relief rests over UConn knowing that they will be on their home field soon. With the Huskies being used to conducting practices on their home field, comfortability levels will surely rise.
Delaware is up next for the Huskies, but this time they’ll return home to the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex.
Hanaisha Lewis is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at hanaisha.lewis@uconn.edu.
