Following an impressive 2-1 win over No. 17 Xavier last Saturday, the University of Connecticut men’s soccer team will return to Morrone Stadium on Friday for its final regular-season matchup against No. 2 Georgetown University. The Huskies will look to close out the regular season with another Big East victory against one of the top teams in the country.
UConn (8-7-2, 4-3 Big East), is coming off a 2-1 road victory over the Musketeers where it entered the matchup looking to get back in the win column after a 3-2 loss to St. John’s earlier in the week.
After a scoreless first half against Xavier, sophomore midfielder Preston Alessio struck first in the 68th minute to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead. Alessio recorded his fourth goal of the season after finishing an opportunity from senior midfielder Steve Delacour. Just eight minutes later, senior forward Elijah Langford doubled the lead with his eighth goal of the season.
Although Xavier netted a goal in the 81st minute, the Huskies held on to secure the victory. UConn finished with a 17-9 advantage in shots with nine attempts on goal compared with Xavier’s three. The Huskies also generated 10 corner kicks, showcasing UConn’s strong offense.
Alessio was a key player across the matchup, recording five shots including four on goal. His performance marked a career high in shots on target, providing the Huskies with an offensive threat against their opponents.
However, UConn will face a difficult challenge in Georgetown, who enters Friday’s matchup ranked No 2. nationally. The Hoyas have been one of the most dominant teams in the Big East this season, with a 14-1-1 overall record and an undefeated 7-0 conference record. They are currently on a 10-game winning streak heading into their matchup against the Huskies.
Through 16 games, the Hoyas have scored 52 goals, averaging three per game, while allowing just 14 goals this season. Their 0.88 goals-against average shows their depth and the strength of their defense that is consistent at preventing their opponents from reaching the back of the net.
Most recently, Georgetown defeated Creighton 5-3 on Oct. 30, extending its winning streak while maintaining its perfect Big East record.
For the Huskies, they will need to try and contain Georgetown’s offense led by seniors Matthew Van Horn and Mateo Ponce Ocampo, who each have 16 goals. UConn will look towards goalkeeper Kyle Durham in net and its defense to limit the Hoyas’ scoring opportunities.
Friday’s matchup will also serve as Senior Night for the Huskies as they close out their regular-season schedule at home. With postseason play quickly approaching, a victory over one of the nation’s top teams would give the Huskies the momentum they need heading into their Big East Championship run.
UConn welcomes Georgetown to Morrone Stadium on Friday with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. If fans are unable to attend the game, they can watch on ESPN+.