STORRS, Conn. — The UConn men’s soccer team (2-0-1) defeated the New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders and the Long Island University Sharks on Thursday and Sunday respectively, remaining undefeated through the first three games of the regular season.
On Thursday night, coined as the annual Student Traditions night, the Huskies hosted NJIT at Morrone Stadium.
During the 29th minute, senior forward Scott Testori found the back of the net off a free kick from sophomore Max Gummesson. Testori, originally from Madison, Conn., now has nine goals in his career. Last season, he scored five goals in the 11 games he played.
Despite being up 1-0 at halftime, the Highlanders outshot Connecticut, 6-5.
At the 51st minute, sophomore midfielder Sabri Hanni scored to double the Huskies’ lead with a beautiful finish. The Paris, France native has started his UConn career on the right foot, scoring in back-to-back games.
Following a video review in the 76th minute, NJIT was awarded a penalty kick and took full advantage. Junior midfielder Sergio Martinez Cubel converted the penalty kick to cut into the Huskies’ lead. It was the first goal that Connecticut has given up this season.
Three yellow cards were issued, all in the second half. Two were issued to UConn, including Testori at the 56th minute and sophomore defender Johan Hamel at the 87th minute. NJIT’s Evan Chomow received one at the 70th minute.
UConn held off the Highlanders for the rest of the game to earn their second win of the season. Connecticut has won all three games in the series, with the first meeting in 2013.
“I thought we adjusted pretty well,” head coach Chris Gbandi said on the game’s atmosphere following the game on the team’s X account. “I told my guys that anyone who comes into this stadium is going to be riled up because they don’t usually play with this many people in the stands. So we’re pretty fortunate to have that.”
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Max Kerkvliet made a total of six saves during the contest.
On Sunday, the Huskies hosted LIU to finish a three-game stretch at home to open the season. It was coined as Junior Husky Club Night and High School Night.
The first 45 minutes saw UConn in front in terms of shots, 5-2. However, neither team was able to capitalize. The best chance of the first half for the Huskies was in the 27th minute, with junior midfielder Nicolas Tomerius. The Berlin, Germany native saw his shot hit the crossbar, keeping the game scoreless.
LIU controlled the shot count in the second half, but both teams had great chances to score a potential game winner.
In the 68th minute, junior forward Eli Conway nearly capitalized off a rebound in the box, but LIU goalkeeper Eoin Gawronski stopped him from doing so.
Gawronski was able to stop a free kick attempt from graduate transfer Michael Suski, who found a way to bend his shot around the LIU wall but was denied in the 88th minute.
Testori and Hamel each received a yellow card in this game, with Testori’s coming in the 26th minute and Hamel’s at the 66th. Hanni received one late in the game at the 84th minute. LIU’s Jaime Villanueva received one 20 seconds into the second half.
Redshirt freshman Max Kerkvliet, originally from Houston, Texas, earned the second shutout of the season, with two saves.
The draw was an improvement from a year ago when the Huskies lost at home 2-0 to the Sharks.
“I’m disappointed at the score, but defensively we did a decent job,” Gbandi said.
NJIT’s loss to the Huskies comes after a 3-0 road win at La Salle University three days earlier. Now, they will take on Saint Peter’s University at the Highlanders’ home in Newark, N.J. on Saturday.
LIU remains undefeated after the draw with UConn, with one-goal victories over Stony Brook University and the University of Albany. They’ll now head back to Brookeville, N.Y. to take on the University of Massachusetts-Lowell on Wednesday.
Coming up for the Huskies, they will travel down the Nutmeg State to New Britain, Conn. on Friday to take on Central Connecticut State University at CCSU Soccer Field. They won’t return to Storrs until Monday when they take on Siena College for the team’s Huskies & Heroes game.