The University of Connecticut field hockey team looks to eliminate UMass on Friday, Nov. 15, at noon in their first step to glory. After becoming the Big East Champions, the team earned a one-way ticket into the NCAA tournament. Sitting as the No. 3 seed, the Huskies gained a home-field advantage.
Looking back on the history, UConn has dominated the matchup, owning a 27-11 overall record. However, the tides have turned in recent years. Securing a pair of victories in 2021 and 2023, UMass stopped the Huskies’ nine-game winning streak. Keeping the goals to a minimum, a two-score match has been the largest deficit in the past three years.
Coming into Friday’s face-off, the competing teams know each other’s playbooks well after going head-to-head in the regular season. Matching Connecticut’s defense, the last contest came down to the final wire, ending in the Huskies taking a 1-0 win. Scoring the lone goal for UConn, Julia Bressler took advantage of a penalty stroke. Bressler is no stranger to taking penalty strokes under pressure, as she sealed the deal for the Huskies in the Big East finals. Capitalizing on penalties is something Connecticut has done all year and for UMass, falling into that trap again is possible.
Breaking down the Huskies’ roster, the defense is something to watch out for. Stepping up in the Big East Tournament, UConn shut out Temple, limiting them to nine total shots with three on goal. The same story was told against Liberty as they registered eight shots with four on goal and found the net once. A key component of the defense is the Big East Goalkeeper of the Year, Natalie McKenna. Saving 65 shots and allowing 22 goals, McKenna’s stellar year is not finished yet and stopping her reign of dominance now is unlikely.
Offensively, keeping an eye on players like Juul Sauer and Sophie Perschk is a must. Achieving Big East Offensive Player and Freshman of the Year, Sauer took control of the forward position right out of the gate. Nearly tying for the team’s leading scorer of 13 goals, the freshman duo finds ways of getting Connecticut on the board. Coming into this matchup, UConn has a solid chance of moving on to the next round.
Turning the page, redemption is in the air for Massachusetts after falling to the Huskies once this year. Despite not seeing the net, Elani Sherwood and Paula Lorenzini made an effort to get an equalizer. Keeping McKenna on her feet, the two took a combined total of four shots and aimed for the goal three times. Putting more pressure on Connecticut is a possibility come game time.
The Huskies plan to continue their three-game win streak while the Minutemen seek to intercept those plans.