University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
DePaul
Huskies Bounce Back With 2-1 Victory Over DePaul
10/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 18, 2009
An insurance goal by junior Meghan Cunningham (Simsbury, Conn.) off of a penalty kick in the 81st minute turned out to be the game-winner as the University of Connecticut women's soccer team downed DePaul 2-1 to earn their 10th victory of the season and fifth BIG EAST win of the year.
The Huskies were a mere 24 seconds away from earning their sixth shutout of the season before DePaul's Tara Strickland got one on the board for the Blue Demons just before the end of regulation.
UConn ended their three-game slide with the win also improving their record to 10-6-0 on the year and 5-4-0 in the BIG EAST while DePaul drops to 9-7-0, 4-5-0 in BIG EAST play.
In a slow offensive game, neither team was able to score in the first half, but freshman Linda Ruutu (Espoo, Finland) got the Huskies on the board first for the 13th time this season when she recorded a strike from 22 yards out. The goal was the eighth of the season for the rookie who leads the team in goals and points recorded.
After a foul in the box by DePaul, Cunningham capitalized on her penalty kick opportunity to give the Huskies a two-goal advantage. UConn is a perfect two-for-two on the season in penalty kick chances.
What looked like an insurance goal turned out to be the game winner as Strickland notched DePaul's first goal of the game, on their first shot on goal of the game. But the Huskies held on for the remaining 24 seconds to earn the victory.
This is the 29th time in the 31 year history of the UConn women's soccer program that the Huskies have earned at least 10 victories in a season.
UConn will return to action next weekend in Storrs with their final two regular season games. First, the Huskies will battle West Virginia under the lights on Friday night at 7 p.m. before ending their season on Sunday against Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. Sunday will be Senior Day where the five seniors from the class of 2009 will be honored.
