University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn to Battle Massachusetts in Exhibition Play on Saturday
8/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 28, 2009
STORRS, Conn. -
The No. 12/13 University of Connecticut men's soccer team will face Massachusetts in its second exhibition match of the 2009 season at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Morrone Stadium. Admission is free to all fans as the Huskies gear up to begin the 2009 season. UConn's regular season opener is set for Wednesday, Sept. 2 at Morrone Stadium as the Huskies take on St. Peter's at 7:00 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The Huskies battled Hartwick College to a 0-0 tie on Saturday, Aug. 22 in front of a crowd of 1,013 fans at Morrone Stadium in UConn's first exhibition match of the season. Matt Sangeloty made two saves in net for the Huskies, playing almost 77 minutes before Tim Gebhardt took over. Gebhardt made one save. Freshman Alan Ponce recorded three shots on the night, while teammates Stephane DIOP and Tony Cascio each had a shot on goal for the Huskies.
2009 OUTLOOK
UConn looks forward to another promising season in 2009 after advancing to the NCAA Final 16 last fall. The Huskies are poised to reach their 12th consecutive and 30th NCAA appearance overall. Leading the way for the Huskies this season are captains Kwame Watson-Siriboe and Josh Ford.
PRESEASON RANKINGS
The Huskies are ranked No. 15 in the Soccer Times Preseason Poll to begin the 2009 season. The NSCAA/adidas Preseason Poll has the Huskies at No. 12, while College Soccer News has UConn beginning the season ranked No. 20. Soccer America, whose poll came out on Tuesday ranks the Huskies as the 13th team in the nation.
FAMILIAR FACES
The Huskies return eight starters from the 2008 squad, including two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection, Toni Stahl, as well as UConn's assist leader in 2007 and 2008, Mike Pezza. Josh Ford returns as UConn's top goalkeeper after compiling a record of 31-8-7 in two seasons with the Huskies. Freshman standout in 2008, Tony Cascio, is back for his second season with the Huskies. Cascio scored two goals last year to go along with her six assists for 10 points.
WHO'S THAT?
UConn adds 12 newcomers to the 2009 roster to help fill the void left by six outstanding seniors who left the program after the 2008 season. The new faces to the UConn roster include junior transfer Thomas Wharf and freshmen Stephane DIOP, Carlos Alvarez, Alan Ponce and Jossimar Sanchez.
THE MATCH-UP
The Huskies are 32-24-6 against UMass, dating back to their first match-up in 1930. In the teams' last regular season meeting on Sept. 14, 1994, UConn shutout the Minutemen 2-0 in Morrone Stadium.
SCOUTING THE MINUTEMEN
Junior Ben Arikian will lead UMass in 2009 as he did in 2008, registering 15 points on four goals and a team-high seven assists. A new face will be in net for the Minutemen as Zack Simmons, who started in all 21 games last season, is no longer with the program.
Head coach Sam Koch enters his 19th season with the Minutemen after his team went 10-8-3 a year ago.
ONE OF THE BEST
Toni Stahl is one of 38 men's Division I Intercollegiate soccer players to comprise the Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List for the 2009 season. Considered the highest individual honor in intercolliegate soccer, the recipients of the MAC Hermann Trophy are selected by Division I head coaches that are part of the NSCAA.
AMERICA'S GREATEST COLLEGE SOCCER FANS
The No. 1 NCAA Division I Soccer Fans in the Country was a title given to UConn's Goal Patrol in 2008 as the Huskies have led the nation in total attendance in eight out of the last 11 years.
700 WINS & COUNTING
On Nov. 22, 2008 the Huskies used a 2-0 victory over Virigina in NCAA Tournament play to earn the program's 700th win (regular & post-season).
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Josh Ford is currently in the top-10 in wins (31), fewest losses (8), consecutive starts (46), lowest GAA (0.56) and shutouts (26) in the Huskies' career record book. Mike Pezza has 30 assists in three years, moving him into a three-way tie for seventh among UConn's all-time assist leaders.
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