The Connecticut women’s soccer team (8-4-4, 2-3-3) looks to pull away from the competition and secure a berth in the Big East Tournament with a win against DePaul (4-6-5, 2-2-3).
With only two games left in the season and UConn tied for sixth in the standings, the pressure is surely on the Huskies to secure their postseason aspirations. After defeating Butler at home and a scoreless draw at Villanova days ago, UConn needs to lock up as many points as they can. This match could be the deciding factor on where UConn will stand because UConn and DePaul are tied in the rankings, alongside Providence. With the final game of the regular season just days away, the Huskies are hoping to relieve some pressure ahead of their senior night.
DePaul’s recent match saw their first loss since September. However, out of the six games played since, three resulted in draws. DePaul had many opportunities to secure crucial wins in Big East play. The Blue Demons also had little success on the road, only having one win this season. As much as this is a crucial game for UConn, the same can be said about DePaul which makes this a more daunting task for Blue Demons.
The 0-0 scoreline on Sunday does not reflect the aggressive attack on Connecticut’s frontline displayed during the game against Villanova. In total, 25 shots were recorded compared to Wildcat’s seven. However, it all comes down to accuracy. Only five of those 25 shots were on target, while for Villanova, only four were. If UConn is hoping to bury the Blue Demons’ defense, they must have more accuracy from their goal scorers. Players such as Chioma Okafor, Anaya Johnson and Alayna Taylor had stellar performances and set up many creative plays, however being able to excite is what will make or break the result.
The key for DePaul will be in their ability to halt any momentum UConn can get going. As seen in their recent match against Creighton, once momentum is seen from the opposing team, they lose their ability to get their offense going again. For them, it is about shutting out the opposing offense and trying to overwhelm the UConn defense. Once DePaul is on the attack and finds their rhythm, they are difficult to stop, as seen in their 3-1 win against Seton Hall. The DePaul frontline will look for Freya Jupp to accomplish this, who leads in goal scorer this season for the Blue Demons.
UConn has dominated the series, with only one loss to Depaul in the ten times the teams have met. The sole loss came during the 2021 season. Not only has UConn dominated in wins, but also in goals scored. In fact, in their most recent matchup, the Huskies defeated the Blue Demons five to zero. Connecticut is hoping to bring that same force to tomorrow’s meeting.
The Connecticut Huskies showdown against the Blue Demons is set for kick-off at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Morrone Stadium for Mental Health Awareness Night. The matchup is available for streaming on FloSports.