Heading into a matchup with Butler on April 4, UConn women’s lacrosse had lost five consecutive games and possessed a 3-8 record.
Since that point, the Huskies have been victorious in three straight games, including two victories by double digits, to revive their season and improve to 6-8.
On Tuesday, Connecticut will clash with Harvard at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium in Storrs, Conn. at 6 p.m.
This will be the third meeting between the programs and second consecutive. Last season, the Huskies were defeated 13-12 in overtime in Cambridge, Mass. Their only other meeting came in 2009, in Connecticut, and resulted in a 14-12 Harvard victory.
The Crimson enter Tuesday’s contest with a 5-8 record. They have dropped their last two games, most recently a 14-13 loss to No. 8 Yale, a team Connecticut lost to by 12 earlier this season.
Against the Bulldogs, Harvard’s Charlotte Hodgson scored four goals. Since the start of April, the junior has averaged four scores a game, including a seven-goal performance against New Hampshire. Her 35 goals this season leads the team.
Both UConn and Harvard’s most recent win came against the Wildcats, with Harvard winning 20-6 and Connecticut 20-7.
In the win, the Huskies had seven players score at least twice, highlighted by freshman McKenna Merkel netting the ball four times.
Since becoming a full-time starter on March 22, Merkel has recorded at least one point in each contest and has had two multi-goal games.
Redshirt senior Rayea Davis is another player who has had a strong month. The New York native has scored in five consecutive matches and leads the team in scoring with 26.
For Harvard, Callie Batchelder’s 33 assists lead the team by more than double, with Grace Mullahy recording 16 this season.
Goalkeeping has been an issue for both squads this season. Connecticut’s junior goalkeeper, Sofia Oximana, has allowed 147 goals in 14 starts. The Seattle native has allowed at least 10 scores in eight games.
Emma Barkauskas has allowed an average of 9.5 goals per game for the Crimson. She has allowed double digit goals in three of the last four games she has started.
With the season winding down, and both teams struggling in conference, a break from conference play can provide late season positivity heading towards the postseason.
Connecticut is 2-3 in the Big East, and Harvard is 1-5 in the Ivy.
Fans can catch Tuesday’s game on UCONN+.