University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Yale
Huskies Down Yale 2-0, Earn Eighth Straight Shutout
10/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 20, 2009
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Stephane DIOP and Max Wasserman recorded their first collegiate goals as the University of Connecticut men's soccer team defeated Yale University 2-0 on Tuesday night at Reese Stadium in New Haven, Conn.
The Huskies, now 9-2-3 on the year downed the Bulldogs for their 33rd all-time win over the Yale program, while it was also the fourth straight since 2006. Tonight's shutout was the eighth consecutive for UConn dating back to Sept. 25, while it was the Huskies' 11th of season. The UConn defense continued its streak and has not allowed a goal in 740 consecutive minutes since that date.
DIOP scored his first collegiate goal at the 28:26 mark of tonight's contest to put the Huskies up 1-0, marking the eventual game-winner. Wasserman's goal in the 87th minute was his first collegiate goal as well, putting the Huskies up by two late in the game.
Yale tried to get ahead early as the Bulldogs used a free kick to get a good look at the net. Chris Dennen headed the ball off of the free kick but UConn goalkeeper Josh Ford leaped into the air to make a great stop for his first save of the game. The Bulldog offense dribbled down the far side of the field minutes later and sent a cross into the goal box to Brad Rose, but the ball was grabbed out of the air by Ford before the Yale attacker got his head on it as the redshirt-junior made his 60th consecutive start for the UConn program.
The Huskies picked up the pace of the game and began to control the tempo of the match midway through the first half as this week's BIG EAST Rookie of the Week, Carlos Alvarez, drilled a corner kick into the goal area that connected with BIG EAST Defender of the Week, Kwame Watson-Siriboe's head but the shot attempt ended up wide left.
Shawn Nicklaw took a pass down field and drilled a shot in the 23rd minute from the far side of the field, which hit the near post, just missing an opportunity to net his first goal of the season.
DIOP put the Huskies up 1-0 in the 29th minute as he received a pass from Alvarez from about 10-yards out and fired a shot towards Yale goalkeeper, Travis Chulick, as the ball hit off the right post and into the back of the net. For the second straight game, the Huskies' offense was sparked by Mike Pezza, who came into the game halfway through the first frame. Pezza helped force the ball back into UConn's possession, which resulted in the Huskies' first goal of the contest.
Ford continued to have another solid outing as he made his second save of the night off a header by Milan Tica. DIOP mimicked the Yale action by breaking down the left side of the field to receive a pass from Pezza but his shot with 10:25 left in the first half was sent wide left of the target.
A ground ball shot by Rose in the 41st minute was again scooped up by Ford for his third stop of the night. Before the end of the half, Tony Cascio tried to extend the UConn lead as he let the ball loose from 35-yards out as Chulick was caught outside of the goal box, but the sophomore shot went high.
At the beginning of the second half, UConn continued to dominate the possession of the ball and threatened to extend its lead as Pezza found Cascio wide open between Yale defenders about 10-yard out of the goal area. But Cascio's shot was stopped by a diving Chulick, for his first save of the game. Senior Toni Stahl was able to get the ball off the deflection by Chulick but his shot went wide right resulting in a Yale goal kick.
Cascio took control of the ball on the near side of the field and made a nice cut to the inside of the box in the 60th minute but his shot sailed wide left, just missing the top left corner of the net.
Yale earned a free kick from five-yards out of the box with under seven minutes remaining in the game but Andy Hackbarth's shot was stopped by Ford for his fourth of the game.
Wasserman came off the bench for his first career goal to put the Huskies up 2-0 at the 86:26 mark as he ran up field and took a pass from Cascio to beat the Yale goalkeeper. Alvarez also picked up an assist on the play.
Ford made four saves on the night, while Chulick had two and allowed two goals.
UConn will travel to South Orange, N.J. on Saturday, Oct. 24 to take on Seton Hall in BIG EAST play as the Huskies have a 12-11-3 all-time record against the Pirates. The Saturday night contest will begin at 7:00 p.m.
