UConn men’s soccer’s season is likely over after a 2-0 loss to No. 25 Providence College in the Big East Quarterfinal round.
The Huskies have not won a game since their Oct. 19 1-0 road victory at Butler University. Since then, they have scored three goals combined in the final four games of the season, being shut out in the last two games.
The Friars did not waste any time being aggressive on the attack, firing six shots through the first 25 minutes. Goalkeeper Max Kerkvliet continued to prove why he is in the conversation for Big East Freshman of the Year, with three of his five saves coming in the first half.
Both teams had a chance to erase the scoreless tie with penalty kicks, but each call was overturned due to VAR reviews. The Huskies had an additional chance in the 35th minute with a free kick by defender Jack Loura, but his shot was saved by Providence goalkeeper Lukas Burns.
Each team had three shots on goal at the midway point, but no one was able to break through.
That was until the 53rd minute, when midfielder Israel Neto found the back of the net for the Salvador, Brazil native’s third goal of the season. Neto had a chance in the first half, along with West Hartford native Pearse O’Brien, but Kerkvliet was able to stop both opportunities.
Midfielder Marco Valentic had an opportunity to even the game at one goal in the 80th minute but could not prevail.
The Friars’ lead doubled in the 81st minute, as forward Bruno Rosa converted a penalty kick due to a hand ball in UConn’s box. It was the fifth goal of the season for the Cascais, Portugal native.
Despite the Huskies’ desperate hopes to climb back into the game, UConn’s Big East Championship hopes ended at Chapey Field on Saturday night. Burns was the backbone of the Friars’ win, recording his seventh shutout of the season and made some pivotal saves late in the game, including a diving save in the 79th minute.
Providence outshot the Huskies 19-13 and had the upper hand on shots on goal, corner kicks and were the more physical team with 14 fouls to Connecticut’s 11.
UConn has now lost the last three games to Providence but leads in the series 24-10-2. The Huskies last win in the Ocean State over the Friars happened on Sep. 28, 2016.
Connecticut likely ends the season with an 8-4-6 record overall and a 3-2-3 record in Big East play. If they were to make the NCAA Tournament, their next game would be on Nov. 21. However, that is unlikely.
There was a three-way tie for the team-lead in goals: Scott Testori, Eli Conway and Sabri Hanni. Testori, a Madison, Conn. native, also led the team in assists and points with four and 12, respectively. Kerkvliet, a Houston, Texas native, allowed 13 goals this season and saved 81.4% of the shots coming his way.
It was the first postseason win for the Friars over UConn. Providence now holds a 6-0 record at home in the Big East Quarterfinals and are 9-3 in home games in the postseason.
Providence’s season will continue Thursday, traveling to the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md. to face No. 3 seeded St. John’s University.