As the UConn men’s soccer program is currently on a two-game winning streak, they look to their next opponent, the Bryant Bulldogs, on Tuesday evening.
Connecticut is coming off a 1-0 win over the Villanova Wildcats this past Friday where they attained a new season record in shots and shots on goal. The game-winning goal came from Rashid Nacif Joffre, who recorded his first goal of the season off a pass from his teammate, Steve Delacour.
Throughout the matchup against the Wildcats, the Huskies maintained consistency in their pressure on both sides of the pitch. With the shutout, Goalkeeper Kyle Durham also earned his first clean sheet of the season.
“I thought we played pretty well,” Head Coach Chris Gbandi said in an interview from the program’s X page. “Getting three points on the road in the Big East is never easy. So, [I’m] certainly excited for the guys, they put in the work today getting their first shutout.”
Now, the Huskies shift their focus to the Bryant Bulldogs and staying in the win column. The Bulldogs are also coming off a 1-0 win from Friday, where they defeated University of Maryland Baltimore County.
In terms of Bryant’s squad, the Huskies should stay on the lookout for senior Fermin Rodriguez, who has 11 points on the season so far and 23 shots in total. Connecticut should also keep tabs on Rodriguez’s teammate, senior Brady Geho, who has tallied 10 points this season and 32 shots.
The Bulldogs’ physicality will be a tall task for the Huskies to go up against. However, if their recent performances are any indication, it shows they’re up for the task.
The last time these two foes came head-to-head was last September, when the Huskies lost 4-1. The Huskies have not won against the Bulldogs since 2021, when they shut out Bryant 3-0.
“They’ve got guys that move the ball well and last year they took it to us here, at home,” Gbandi said in an interview on the programs X. “We know we have our work cut out for us. So, we’re looking forward to a great game.”
As Connecticut sets their sights on Tuesday’s matchup, they will look to improve their record against the Bulldogs from 1-1-1 to 2-1-1.
“The chemistry has certainly improved,” Gbandi said in an interview from the team’s X page, regarding his roster’s chemistry over the season. “[The] guys are working hard for each other, guys are competing for each other […] hopefully we can keep it going.”
To see Connecticut in action, kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Husky fans can tune in to the matchup on UConn+.