Since first taking the field against the Catamounts in Burlington, Vt., over 40 years ago, the UConn women’s soccer team has never lost to the University of Vermont.
That first 3-0 victory came on Oct. 19, 1984, with UConn adding 10 more wins in the decades since. The Huskies extended their undefeated streak back in 2024 with a 2-2 draw, bringing the series record to 11-0-3 in favor of UConn.
UConn (2-2-3) will look to return to its winning ways against the Catamounts when it hosts Vermont (3-4-2) on Saturday.
Despite a disappointing two-game road stint across the past two weeks that saw the Huskies go 0-1-1 and score just once across a combined 180 minutes, UConn has stayed afloat at .500 in the early going thanks to a hot start to the season at home. The Huskies are 2-0-1 in a trio of contests in Storrs, Conn.
Saturday could mark the 2026 home debut for second-year goalkeeper Ava Yamas, who made her first start of the season last Sunday in the Huskies’ 2-0 road loss to Harvard. In eight home starts last season, the sophomore allowed five goals and pitched four shutouts.
Freshman Lily Onorato had started UConn’s first six contests, playing a full 90 minutes in the first four before seeing her playing time progressively shrink in the latter two contests and not appearing Sunday.
The Huskies would benefit greatly from another addition to their lineup if leading scorer Maeve Staunton returns to the field. UConn’s leading scorer with three goals on the season, Staunton scored UConn’s only goal across the last two contests and netted all three of her scores between her last two appearances.
After not appearing in the Huskies’ 2-0 loss to the Crimson, Staunton playing on Saturday would be key for a UConn squad that currently ranks outside the top 200 in Division I in scoring with 10 goals scored, according to the NCAA website.
Vermont has been one goal better in 2026 but has still struggled to put scores on the board, sitting tied for 194th in the county in goals.
Freshman Eleni Stowell is Vermont’s leading goal scorer and has found the back of the net in four straight contests. The hot stretch aligns with the three-game winning streak Vermont will carry into Friday. Buoyed by Stowell’s breakout, the Catamounts have scored seven goals across that three-game stretch while limiting opponents to two.
Other offensive threats for the Catamounts include senior assists leaders Emma Warren and Aubrey Bough, who have combined for seven assists on the season.
Despite its recent success, Vermont has run into struggles on the road reminiscent of UConn’s own. The Catamounts have won just one contest on the road this season, a 2-1 nailbiter against St. Joseph’s University in which Vermont scored in the game’s final second on a goal from junior midfielder Ella Hall. That win was the first of the three-game streak.
Saturday’s match is the Huskies’ final tune up before they head to Queens, N.Y., on Wednesday for the start of Big East play against St. John’s. Game time at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. The contest will stream live on UConn+.