The UConn women’s lacrosse team celebrated a 19-12 victory at home on Wednesday, Feb. 12. They look to take on Quinnipiac this weekend. Photo by Eric Wang/The Daily Campus
Coming off a hot weekend in which program history was made en route to a 2-0 record for the Huskies, their next challenge comes in the form of a 1-2 Quinnipiac opponent on the road on Saturday.
Two Huskies were recognized for their talents on the field this week, as junior Sydney Watson was named AAC Midfielder of the Week, while sophomore teammate Lia Laprise received AAC weekly honors. Watson had a total of 12 goals, 21 draw controls and two assists to make 14 points during the two game stretch. Laprise finished the weekend with six goals (two hat tricks) and seven assists to make 13 points.
Laprise and Watson, both midfielders, are leading the offense in many categories. Laprise currently is atop the team in points with 22 in just four games, with a team high 12 assists. Watson is the top goal scorer so far with 18. The two (Laprise and Watson) have the highest points per game totals in the American with 5.5 and 5.0, respectively.
Watson had a big day on Friday afternoon, setting a school record for most draw controls in a game (14) and tied a school record for most goals in a game with eight, also held by former Husky Grace Nolan. Named a member of the Preseason All-AAC squad, she hopes to only keep improving as UConn’s season progresses.
❗️GAME DAY❗️
🆚 Quinnipiac
🕗3:00 p.m.
📍Storrs, CT
🖥 https://t.co/lJJHz4g2e5
📈 https://t.co/SrQ12xr2UF#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/4WocpTqhye— UConn Lacrosse (@UConnWLAX) February 28, 2020
The Huskies have only improved their free position opportunity stats on both sides of the ball. On the season, they have scored on 60% of their free position chances, while allowing goals on just 15% of opponent opportunities. We’ll get to see how these stats correspond to a Quinnipiac team that has scored 46% of the time on their free position chances.
UConn (3-1) looks to continue their hot streak, as they currently have the program’s best start to the season since 2016. Earning two wins with scores of 20-14 and 21-8 against solid UMass Lowell and UNH teams, they are leading the AAC in goals scored per game with 17. After East Carolina’s recent win, the Huskies sit tied for second in the conference with Florida, trailing ECU by half a game.
The Bobcats (1-2) have had a slow start to the season, dropping their first two games to Bryant and Wagner before picking up a win at LIU on Sunday. They are averaging 12.3 goals per game, led by top goal scorer and senior Megan Szawlowski. Szawlowski currently has nine goals and one assist to make 10 points on the season.
Jonathan Synott is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at jonathan.synott@uconn.edu.
