University of Connecticut Athletics
Women's Soccer Feature Story
10/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 12, 2010
STORRS, CONN. - Only a few years removed from a NCAA Quarterfinals appearance, the UConn women's soccer team is looking to make a run at postseason play in 2010.
In order to reach this goal, team captains Meghan Cunningham and Elise Fugowski will have to play major roles on and off the field.
"We have some pretty high goals. I think we have a lot of potential. We want to go farther than last year," said Cunningham.
With last year's second round loss to Boston College now in the past, the team can move forward and attempt to make it back to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2007. Fugowski was on the 2007 squad, and would like nothing more than for the team to make it back for a deep run in the tournament.
"My freshman year we made it to the NCAA Quarterfinals and if we went far this year it would make a big lasting impression," said Fugowski.
As for right now, the team will focus on the BIG EAST portion of its schedule. Already 3-3-1 in BIG EAST play, the Huskies will play two of the remaining four BIG EAST games right at home in Morrone Stadium. The one remaining road trip will be to West Virginia and Pittsburgh, before returning home to prepare for the BIG EAST Tournament.
The team has already played in six overtime games, and Cunningham attributes this to a difficulty finishing late in games. "Sometimes we just kind of wait to react. We'll score one goal and get complacent and then teams come back."
"We score and don't put them away and it's been killing us," added Fugowski.
 Senior captain Elise Fugowski  | |
"We're not worried about if someone comes in off the bench, it's not going to change the game," said Fugowski. "It's not something that every team has. We can rely on all players."
"I think we've done the best in the games we've used the most people," added Cunningham.
With postseason play around the corner, the team will look to Cunningham and Fugowski to lead by example, as they attempt to string together some wins and make a splash in the tournament.
"We lead in our own ways... We're always there if anyone needs us," said Cunningham.
As summer turns to fall and the New England weather gets colder, Cunningham knows It's an entirely different ball game.
"When it's fall and it's cold out and it's getting to the end of the year... Championship season is a different time."
