The UConn women’s soccer team (8-3-3, 2-2-2) has their eyes set on the Big East Tournament as they enter the final stretch of the regular season. They will continue their season with a home game against Butler (6-4-3, 1-2-2).
Connecticut has had some success in the Big East Conference. Coming off a 3-0 win on the road against Marquette, the momentum is on their side at a pivotal time in the season. With those three points, Connecticut set itself in a good position in the conference. Sitting at No. 4, if the season were to end today, they would not only qualify for the Big East Tournament, but also be the host site for a first-round fixture. Butler, on the other hand, sits in ninth place and has a bleak road ahead of them to qualify for postseason play. For them, this is a must-win game. For Connecticut, this game would be key to further establishing their playoff berth.
The Bulldogs have lost the last four matches, and they hope to break the streak with an upset against the Huskies. They have also failed to capitalize on home fixtures and have only won one game at home, which has also been their only win in Big East play. Their last fixture was also a low for Butler, with their largest loss so far of 3-0.
Abbey Jones, a senior from Nottingham, England, had an impressive performance against Marquette. Recording a brace for the Huskies was a critical part of UConn’s dominance on the frontline. Another reason Jones is key for the Connecticut offense is her shot-making ability. She has recorded 39 shots attempted, with 17 being on target. Alongside Chioma Okafor, the leading goal scorer for the Huskies with 11 goals, Butler’s defense has a lot of work ahead of them if they want to avoid an avalanche of offensive attacks.
The Bulldog’s key lies in their ability to shut out teams through their goalkeeper Anna Pierce. Pierce is second in the Big East for shutouts, recording five this season.
Aside from their recent match with Xavier, Butler has only scored two goals in the last five games. With UConn typically outshooting opponents when they are on the attack, the Bulldogs must rely on Pierce to prevent UConn from getting on the board.
As for their history, it’s on Butler’s side, as the Bulldogs have always had the upper hand in this series. Butler has a 1-4-1 advantage over the Huskies. In fact, in the first four matchups between the teams, Butler left victorious. It wasn’t until last season that UConn recorded its first win against Butler. The Huskies are looking to create a winning streak and improve their record in this series.
The Huskies will face the Bulldogs this Thursday with kick-off set to 7 p.m. at Morrone Stadium for the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game. The fixture is available for streaming on FloSports.