The UConn women’s field hockey team continued their dominance in the Big East and improved to 4-0 in the conference and 12-1 overall.
Connecticut left everything on the field as the Huskies’ offense took 22 shots and netted six goals. The Huskies were exceptional across the field as they shut down Quinnipiac’s offense and played a defensively strong match.
Only allowing four shots with two on goal, goalkeeper Natalie McKenna sat in the net relaxing. Taking the field by the end of the match, backup keeper Gabby Raichle saved two shot attempts.
UConn pressured Quinnipiac off the first whistle and maintained possession quickly. No. 9 Milaw Clause was fast to secure a breakthrough and passed the ball to No. 14, Sol Simone. Simone flawlessly aimed a long shot from the top of the scoring circle and put Connecticut on the board 1-0 while earning her fourth goal of the season.
Although UConn fought for opportunities throughout the first and second quarters, the Bobcat’s keeper, Cristina Torres, saved five shots.
By the end of the first half, defender Isabel Soeters connected with Clause for some Husky momentum. The duo then found Sophie Perschk in the scoring circle who notched her tenth goal of the season to increase UConn’s lead 2-0.
Shining in the first half and shutting down the offense, Connecticut’s defense left Quinnipiac scoreless, not allowing a single shot.
Carrying the momentum and leaving no room to breathe, UConn continued to lay their foot on the gas. Right out of the gate in the second half, the ball found No. 4 Juul Sauer.
Keeping possession, Sauer weaved around the defenders and made it into the shooting circle. After Sauer passed the ball across the goal distracting the keeper, Perschk tapped the ball in, her second of the game. The Perschk-Sauer freshman duo have been essential to UConn’s offensive success this season.
Soon after, Soeters hailed in an incredible pass from No. 29 Sophia Ugo, who launched the ball in the air.
With just the keeper to beat, Soeters found the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season. After putting a hat trick on her resume just two games ago, Soeters continues the hot streak.
Coming down to the final minute of the third quarter, No. 25 Violeta Francese entered the game. Soon after, Francese scored her first goal of the season off a rebounded shot from Ugo.
With the win officially secured entering the fourth quarter, goalkeeper changes were made. With nothing to lose, the Bobcats pressured Connecticut and tested Gabby Raichle immediately by making their first shots on goal. However, Raichle kept the shutout and forced the Bobcats back to square one.
After failing two attempts to gain the sixth goal, Simone passed the ball to No. 11 Milou Heuker off a corner. No. 12 Julia Bressler helped to create a give-and-go for Heuker. Opening the opportunity, Heuker wound up and punched the last goal in for her second of the season.
Quinnipiac attempted one last shot, but it resulted in a block and ended the game in a shutout 6-0. Throughout the contest, the Huskies kept the Quinnipiac goalie on her feet as UConn forwards kept the pressure on the entire game. Sauer attempted three shots with two on goal and Bressler put up five shots with three on target.
With this 6-0 win, UConn stays undefeated in the conference and at home, not to mention when playing in conference games, the Huskies have shut out every team so far.
Keeping their foot on the gas, Connecticut looks to continue their dominance in the Big East and will take on Providence on Friday, Oct. 18.