The University of Connecticut men’s soccer team lost their second Big East matchup of the season Saturday night at Morrone Stadium, falling 2-1 against DePaul University.
UConn looked to continue momentum in conference play after earning its first Big East victory of the season against Villanova. The Huskies entered Saturday’s matchup also looking to get back in the winning column after falling to Bryant University on Tuesday 1-0.
The Blue Demons attacked early in the first half, putting pressure on UConn’s defense and goalkeeper Kyle Durham. DePaul got their first shot in the fifth minute when Scott Godden attempted one that went wide.
UConn responded with a chance of their own in the ninth minute when senior forward Preston Alessio sent a shot toward the bottom center of the net. DePaul goalkeeper Chance Johnson was there to make the save and keep the game scoreless.
The Huskies continued to put pressure on Johnson in hopes of scoring first. Aidan Sheppela had a shot on goal in the 18th minute, but Johnson made the save to keep UConn off the board.
It was DePaul in the 22nd minute that struck first when Keagan Pace found the back of the net after an assist from Noeh Hernandez. The goal gave the Blue Demons a 1-0 advantage with the Huskies looking to tie the game up before halftime. Alessio recorded another shot right after Pace’s goal, but his attempt was sent wide.
UConn continued to generate opportunities as the first half continued. Alessio recorded yet another shot in the 23rd as did senior midfielder Steve Delacour who sent a shot of his own late in the first half. Johnson made the save to preserve DePaul’s one-goal lead heading into halftime.
Durham also recorded necessary saves throughout the first half to prevent DePaul from adding to their lead. The red-shirt junior goalkeeper made saves following three more shot attempts from the Blue Demons.
UConn returned for the second half looking to tie the game, but DePaul quickly attacked again. Durham made a save on Hernandez’s attempt in the 48th minute to keep the Huskies down by only one goal. Alessio also forced another save from Johnson in the 51st minute with UConn still looking for their first goal of the game.
Despite the opportunities UConn had, DePaul added to their lead in the 60th minute when Hernandez scored his first goal of the night and his sixth of the season, leaving the Huskies with 30 minutes left to wipe the deficit.
UConn responded quickly and cut DePaul’s lead by one just a few minutes later. In the 63rd minute, Emerhi scored his first goal of the season. After the goal, Sheepela recorded another attempt in the 72nd minute while UConn also earned several corner kicks as it looked to capitalize and put pressure on DePaul’s defense.
The Huskies came close to netting another goal in the final ten minutes when Evan Pickering launched a shot toward the bottom center of the goal. Johnson made the save to preserve the Blue Demon’s lead while Durham also continued to make stops on his end, denying shots from Daniel Hickiewicz in the 80th and 82nd minutes to keep UConn in reach of a comeback.
With just a few minutes remaining, the Huskies attempted to tie the game, putting more pressure on DePaul’s defense but ultimately the Blue Demons and Johnson in net stayed strong to secure the win.
UConn has struggled so far this season with making comebacks when their opponent scores first and, despite the late pressure, were unable to find an equalizer.
“We have too many games at home that we’re not taking advantage of…,” Head Coach Christ Gbandi said in a postgame interview on the program’s X account. “We have to find a way to win games at home because we’re not doing that right now.”
The loss drops the Huskies to 1-2 in the Big East Conference play.
The Huskies will look to bounce back in another Big East game as they travel to Marquette University on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and fans can tune in to watch on ESPN+.
