The two best teams in the Big East are set to face off in a game that could decide who the premier soccer team in the conference is. The No. 24 UConn men’s soccer team (6-0-2, 1-0 Big East) will host No.15 Seton Hall University (7-1, 0-1 Big East) at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium on Saturday night.
The Huskies are coming off a shocking scoreless draw at home against Fairfield on Tuesday night and look to remain undefeated in the program’s best start in years.
Seton Hall was undefeated until the team’s Big East opener, losing 1-0 at Providence last Friday. They returned to South Orange, N.J., and earned a bounce-back 2-0 win over Lehigh.
In Monday’s Big East Weekly Honors, UConn forward Eli Conway took home the honor of Offensive Player of the Week. The junior from Mount Olive, N.J. scored a hat trick in Connecticut’s Big East opener at DePaul, helping his team avoid defeat.
For the Pirates, numerous players have found their names on the weekly accolades. Midfielder Jack Kossoudji was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Week in a release on Sep. 16. They have a strong group of freshmen, with forward Til Kauschke and midfielder Thomas Sellwood being named the conference freshman of the week in the past three weeks. Kauschke, tied for the lead in points with six, has been the Big East Freshman of the Week twice this season. Midfielder Jón Vignir Pétursson helped anchor the Seton Hall defense earlier this season in wins over the University at Albany and Manhattan College and even notched a goal on a penalty kick over UAlbany.
What makes the Pirates a team not to be trifled with is the number of players that can contribute at any moment. Out of the 14 goals scored by the team this season, only three have more than one as Kauschke, Vignir Pétursson and defender Jared Smith have each scored two goals.
Despite him not being among the starters for his team this season, Kossoudji has six points, which is tied for the lead on the team. The graduate student from Columbus, Ohio has a team-high four assists this season.
Seton Hall operates with an even split in who is in the net for them. Graduate student Soren Jensen and junior Matias Molina have played the same amount of time and have a combined average of 0.63 goals allowed. Sorensen was named the Big East Goalkeeper of the Week on Sep. 9 and has not lost a game this season, earning four wins.
Both teams surprised the conference to break out as the top two teams. According to the Big East Preseason Poll, neither program was projected to finish in the top three of the East Division.
The history between these two schools in men’s soccer is almost even, with Seton Hall holding a 16-15-4 lead since the teams first met in 1987. The Pirates have taken the last two meetings, while UConn’s last win at home in the series was in 2012.
Following this game, the Pirates will move on to their next Big East opponent as they host Marquette next Friday. The Huskies will be back on the road after Saturday as they will visit Villanova on the same day.
With this matchup being the most anticipated this season, it is expected that Morrone Stadium will be sold out for a Saturday night kickoff at 7 p.m. For those who were unable to secure a ticket, the game will be available to watch on FloFC.