Head coach Margaret Rodriguez sat goalie Kaitlyn Mahoney in favor of MaryKate Ward in the previous two games. This was done to let the grad student get her mind right as the stretch run of Big East competition started. On a chilly Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee, the seventh-year head coach made an excellent call to go back to Mahoney.
Mahoney’s day started early as Tess O’ Connell took a Marquette free kick which Mahoney scooped up. The Golden Eagles had a corner kick moments later. The 5-foot-four Mahoney soared above everyone else and came down with the ball.
UConn began their offense with an Abbey Jones free kick that sailed too high and out of bounds. Jones had another shot a few minutes later that also soared over the net.
Mahoney saw some more action as Kiley McMinn was trying to loop a pass into the box, but the reigning Big East Goalkeeper of the Year grabbed the ball before any opposing player could touch it.
In the 16th minute, Lina Dantes made a brilliant play as she could have let the ball roll out of bounds for a Connecticut corner kick, but decided to take it herself. Dantes drove past her defender and found Chioma Okafor. The Huskies star had a shot deflected right back to her. Her pass then ricocheted off McMinn’s shoulder right to Jones. The captain did not think twice about the opportunity and netted her second goal of the season. Although neither player may get an assist because of the deflection, it was beautiful team chemistry all around.
Jones tried her luck one more time from outside the box; however, Chole Olson made the save. UConn earned a corner kick later in the half, which was taken by Sophie McCarthy. The senior delivered a ball right to Lucy Cappadona, who went bar down off the top crossbar and in for the second Connecticut goal of the game.
Marquette turned the ball over and it looked like the Huskies had a chance to score their third goal of the game. Jones fired a shot that was just high of the net. Joyce Ryder also had a shot over the head of Olson.
Haley Christianson got the second shot attempt of the half for the Golden Eagles. Her shot was deflected by a Husky and resulted in a Marquette corner kick. Mahoney stepped up once again and punched the ball out of the box and thwarted the goal attempt.
The best opportunity for Marquette in the first half came after both Ryder and Adrianna Alberts were shown yellow cards, giving the Golden Eagles a free kick. Head coach Chris Allen drew up a stellar play where Carina Murphy found Maggie Starker, who was wide open. Starker rushed her shot, and it hit the side of the net. The Golden Eagles had one last chance before the half, but a foul was called on the corner kick and UConn headed into the half up 2-0.
Okafor began the second half by trying to extend her goals streak to six consecutive games. Her shot from the left side of the box traveled out of bounds. Anna Carson then had a free kick opportunity on goal, but it sailed over and out.
Mahoney made two saves on shots by O’Connell of Marquette. She also saw a save chance on a Christianson shot, which landed high on the top of the net.
In the 63rd minute, Kelly Monaco made a pass into the basket for Jones inside the box. Jones made an incredible play by using the back of her foot to put the ball past Olson and in for her second goal of the day and the Huskies’ third.
UConn showed their incredible chemistry on the defensive end as Mahoney was unable to corral the ball in the box. Christianson took over the ball, reared back and fired a shot while Mahoney was out of position. Mahoney made a slight recovery and together with Cappadona, who was also right there, they made a co-save on the shot. The captain made a great play, as she saw the play developing before it even happened, heading straight for the net once Mahoney fell down.
The Huskies were trying to both extend Okafor’s goal streak and get Jones a hat trick in garbage time. Naia Ocio was subbed in late and thrown right into the fire. She made a pass to Jones, who found a wide-open Okafor. Chioma put a ball to the other end of the box, and it faded out of bounds. Carson took a free kick and passed it right to Ocio who looked poised to head in a goal. However, Olson made a great diving save to keep the deficit at three for the Golden Eagles. Jones fired a heat check a few minutes later, but it was snagged by Olson in net. The final Connecticut opportunity saw a free kick go off a Marquette player and into the net. The referees blew the play dead as a UConn player was offside.
The final whistle sounded, and the Huskies improved to 2-2-2 in divisional play. Connecticut is 5-0-2 when they have scored two or more games. Mahoney played exceptionally, earning her 23rd career shutout after her two-game hiatus and captains Jones and Cappadona were responsible for all three goals, along with exceptional defensive plays. UConn looks to continue the momentum on Thursday at home against the Butler Bulldogs.