STORRS – For the first time this season, the UConn men’s soccer team (7-2-3, 2-1-1 Big East) have lost back-to-back games. At their lowest point of the season, the Huskies look to get back in the win column with their nonconference finale against Bryant University (7-3-2, 2-1 America East).
The Huskies began last week with a loss at the University of Vermont by a 1-0 score. They lost by the same score at home against No. 19 Georgetown University on Saturday, a team they haven’t defeated since Oct. 3, 2012.
Connecticut has gone on a roller coaster ride when it comes to their offense. They scored eight goals in their first two games of the season, including six during their home opener against Stonehill College. Following that, the Huskies tied in a scoreless draw with Long Island University. The next four games saw UConn score at least two goals in each contest until Sep. 24’s scoreless draw with Fairfield University, which was followed by a scoreless draw with Seton Hall University. The last time the Huskies scored was in a 3-0 win at Villanova University.
Bryant is coming off a 2-1 victory at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell). During the game, forwards Marc Pitarch and Cristian Guirado each scored their fourth goal of the season. The win now puts them one point behind Vermont in the America East Conference standings with six points.
Pitarch, a senior from Ares del Maestrat, Spain, leads the team with nine points, while Guirado, a sophomore from Valencia, Spain, is close behind with eight.
Forward Jonas Lyshoj, a senior from Hillerod, Denmark, is tied for the team’s lead in assists with two, along with forward Tomas Sentieiro.
Goalkeeper Antreas Hadjigavriel is the Bulldogs’ go-to guy in net, starting 10 of the 11 games he’s appeared in. He has allowed 0.79 goals on average and has a save percentage of .733.
It is a homecoming game for many of the Bulldogs’ upperclassmen. Bryant defender Landon Sartori, who attended South Kent School, calls Lakeville, Conn. his hometown. Midfielder Diego Rodriguez graduated from Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge, Conn. Before initially attending Eckerd College in St. Petersburgh, Fla., defender Alex Ard attended Waterford High School in Connecticut. Lastly, defender Avery Overstreet graduated from Windsor High School.
In Massey Ratings, Connecticut is ranked No. 49 in the country following back-to-back losses. Bryant is currently ranked the second-best team in the America East, coming into Tuesday night’s game ranked No. 73 in the country.
The two programs have only met once, on Aug. 27, 2021. The Huskies came out victorious with a 3-0 final score.
Following this game, the Bulldogs will have a big test on their hands as they travel to the Green Mountain State to take on Vermont on Saturday evening. UConn will head on the road to Indianapolis for a matchup on Saturday night with Butler University.
The non-conference finale, coined as the team’s Breast Cancer Awareness game, will take place at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium at Rizza Performance Center. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and can be watched on UConn+.