The UConn women’s soccer team defeated Xavier Sunday afternoon in a double overtime victory.
Connecticut only had one real opportunity in the first half of play. First team All-Big East forward Chioma Okafor was in a battle with Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Natalie Bain, all game long. Okafor broke free for a moment against Bain in the 11th minute, sending a shot which hit the side of the net. For the rest of the half, UConn was on the defensive.
UConn goalkeeper Kaitlyn Mahoney was brilliant, keeping the Huskies afloat while the offense was stagnant. Emma Flick took a shot for the Musketeers, which was saved by Mahoney. Later, Samantha Wiehe was wide open, but her shot went directly to Mahoney who made the save. Standout freshman Samantha Erbach made a cross pass which found Regan Dancer. The cross pass put Mahoney out of position and gave Dancer a semi-open goal opportunity. Mahoney made a great recovery and with the help of Kelly Monaco who deflected Dancer’s shot away to Weihe. The senior rifled a shot which Mahoney punched out of bounds with her gloves.
UConn was not so fortunate minutes later as a loose ball forced Mahoney out of the net once again. The ball was tipped and landed at the feet of Wiehe who saw the opportunity and took it. She fired it past the defenders trying to cover for Mahoney and into the left corner for the first Xavier goal of the game.
Wiehe had a shot at a second goal in the first half as Erbach’s pass hung in the air long enough for her to make a break on it. Mahoney met the midfielder at the apex and got enough of her body on it to clear the ball out of the box. Right before the half, Reese Slater had the ball centered for her inside of the box. The 2023 Big East Goalkeeper of the Year read Slater like a book and made yet another save.
Xavier took a 1-0 lead into the second half.
The second half was all UConn starting in the 51st minute when Naia Ocio made a cross pass which Xavier goalie Maria Galley could not read properly. Laci Lewis took advantage of the miscue and slid towards the ball, tipping it in for the equalizer. Lewis, who scored her first ever goal on senior night, picked a great time to score her second career goal.
The Musketeers did not go quietly, as a cross pass set Dancer up with a one-timer. The junior could not get a good foot on it and her touch went high and out of play. Xavier earned a corner kick later in the half, which was sent into a flurry of players. UConn successfully built a wall of defenders, blocking any shot attempt.
Connecticut then took their turn on the offensive as a free kick was sent to Okafor, whose shot was deflected to Maddie Fried. The Villanova transfer’s shot sailed well out of bounds. Okafor was in the mix a few minutes later when she headed a ball in Galley’s direction. Her shot was sent away, but it earned the Huskies a corner kick. Another free kick for UConn almost resulted in a goal as Alayna Taylor and Galley were in a foot race for the dribbling ball. A sliding Galley beat Taylor to it, keeping the Huskies at bay for the moment.
The first of two controversial no-calls took place toward the end of the second half. Fried was taken down in the box and stayed down for a few moments. The Connecticut fans and players wanted a penalty call but received nothing. The fans had to hold their breath again as right before the final whistle blew, Olivia Lawson received a pass right near the net. Mahoney and Monaco were there again to sniff out any possible Xavier opportunity as time expired.
To ensure their spot in the NCAA tournament, all Connecticut needed to do was score one goal and beat a team that they have never beaten in the history of the program.
The first overtime began with Joyce Ryder firing a shot that Galley saved. On the other end, Dancer almost ended it for the Musketeers; however, her shot hit the side of the net.
The other controversy came when Okafor took a fall in the box and again, no call was made. Erbach then sent a strike high and out of bounds. One overtime was not enough to determine the winner.
Ocio had a headbutt chance off an Anna Carson free kick, but she got a little too much on it as it landed on the net.
Okafor dropped it off for Taylor a few possessions after the Ocio missed header. Taylor dribbled around the edge of the box before letting an off balance shot fly. The ball continued to travel and went over the head of Galley and into the top right corner.
The Huskies swarmed Taylor and the celebration was on.
For the first time since 2016, the UConn Huskies are going to the NCAA tournament. A monumental moment for head Coach Margaret Rodriguez in her seventh season. The first round of the women’s NCAA soccer tournament begins on Nov. 15, and fans can find the complete bracket on Monday.