University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
USF
Cascio Hat Trick Leads UConn over USF 4-0
9/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 24, 2010
STORRS, Conn. - Tony Cascio scored three goals to lead the No. 6 UConn men's soccer team over No. 22 South Florida 4-0 live on ESPNU in front of a crowd of 4,374 at Morrone Stadium on Friday night. Carlos Alvarez finished the night with four assists.
Along with the two stellar individual performances, UConn blanked its fifth opponent of the year and remains unbeaten in 2010 with a 6-0-1 overall record. For the fifth straight season, UConn has opened BIG EAST Conference play with a victory. South Florida falls to 4-2-1 with the loss.
Cascio broke the game open for UConn in the 56th minute as he knocked the rebound off of an Andrew Jean-Baptiste shot into the back of the net to give UConn a 2-0 lead. Cascio's second goal of the contest came in the 61st minute as Alvarez' great vision on the field paid off, finding Cascio on the near side of the 18-yard box for the junior's second score of the match.
The Gilbert, Ariz. native extended UConn's lead at the 74:25 mark, scoring his third goal of the night. Thomas Wharf and Alvarez were credited the assists on the play as UConn went ahead 4-0.
For UConn, it was the first three-goal performance since O'Brian White registered six points on three goals against South Florida on Dec. 2, 2007 in NCAA Tournament action at Morrone Stadium. Alvarez' four-assist night ties for the most assists in a single game in program history. The last to register four assists in a game was Elvis Comrie in UConn's 7-0 win over St. John's on Oct. 25, 1981.
UConn's Stephane Diop scored the eventual game-winning goal as he connected first for the Huskies, finding the back of the net in the 16th minute to give UConn a 1-0 lead. Alvarez dribbled down the field and passed off to his right where Nickardo Blake was able to cross the ball into the box to find Diop cutting down the middle. For Diop, it was his second game winner of the year and his fifth career goal.
Josh Ford recorded his 43rd career shutout with three saves in net for the Huskies. It was the fourth shutout for the senior goalkeeper this season and third straight.
In their last three matches, the Huskies have outscored opponents 11-0 as Cascio has tallied five of those goals scored.
Tonight's win also marked UConn head coach Ray Reid's 340th career win, while the UConn program improved to 8-0-0 all-time against the Bulls.
UConn returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 28 as the Huskies host nationally-ranked Boston College at Morrone Stadium. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
