The UConn women’s soccer team heads to Chicago to take on the DePaul Blue Demons on Wednesday night. UConn (9-3-3 overall, 5-1-2 Big East) is coming off a shutout win over Villanova, featuring a brace from Se-Hanna Mars. The Blue Demons (4-10-1 overall, 1-5-1 Big East) fell by a score of 2-1 in their last match against Creighton.
This will be the 12th match between the Huskies and the Blue Demons. It is safe to say that UConn has had success over DePaul, winning 10 out of the 11 games, with the last being in October of 2024 by a score of 3-1.
UConn looks to extend its winning streak to six games. In that time, senior forward Chioma Okafor has been red hot. The two-time All-Big East First Team award winner has shone this season, leading the Huskies with 7 goals. Okafor is pushing for three straight First-Team awards.
Redshirt freshman Mars will look to extend her scoring streak to three games. The Manchester native has scored all three of her goals in the last two games. Mars is getting hot at the perfect time of the season.
The UConn defense has been stellar during the winning streak, with 4 shutouts and allowing just 2 goals in the Oct. 11 draw against Marquette.
Look out for the defense led by sixth-year Anna Carson, junior Anaya Johnson and freshman Ines Nourani. All of them have performed well in this streak, not allowing their opponents to get by easily.
Freshman goalkeeper Ava Yamas has had 15 saves in the last five games, allowing just two goals during that stretch. The Tennessee native leads the Big East in shutouts with 8, allowing the fewest goals per game with .609 and a save percentage of .836. This is remarkable for the freshman.
DePaul has been lackluster in the goal department this season. Averaging just about one goal a game, the Huskies’ defense will most likely shut down the Blue Demons and not let them in their third of the field.
With just two games remaining in the season, the Huskies sit at the third seed in the Big East with 17 points. The only way they can catch second place Xavier, who has 22 points, is if the Musketeers lose both of their remaining games (Marquette and Georgetown) and the Huskies take down DePaul and Seton Hall.
If all the above happens, UConn will finish with 23 points, jumping ahead of Xavier by 1 point.
The same scenario applies to fourth place Villanova. If UConn loses its final two games and the Wildcats win their final two games, they will steal third place from the Huskies by one point.
The Huskies will play their final match of the season on the road Saturday against Seton Hall. The Big East Tournament will kick off on Nov. 6, with UConn looking to defend its title.