University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Set For Big East Semifinals
5/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The No. 2 seeded University of Connecticut women's lacrosse team will make its fourth consecutive postseason appearance when the Huskies face the No. 3 seeded Temple on Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m. in the Big East semifinals at Cooper Field on Georgetown's campus.
The game can be viewed on the Big East Digital Network, which can be accessed online HERE or through the FOX Sports GO App. The game will also be broadcast by WHUS so fans can listen to the game HERE.
UConn earned the No. 2 seed in the tournament after going 6-1 in conference games during the regular season, with its only loss coming to top seeded Florida. The Huskies enter the semifinals 12-4 overall, coming off a most recent loss to No. 20 Towson Sunday.
Sophomore Grace Nolan (Marcellus, N.Y.) leads the team with 56 points (41g, 15a) followed by leading goal scorer Katherine Finkelston (Leonardtown, Md.) with 52 points (46g, 6a) and senior Alyson Fazio (Methuen, Mass.) with 34 (21g, 13a).
Senior goalkeeper Shannon Nee (Lancaster, Pa.) has earned all 16 starts this season and ranks sixth nationally in saves per game with 9.94. Her 159 saves this season have helped her to a program-best 12 wins, a .513 save percentage and a 9.56 goals against average.
A Connecticut victory against the Owls on Thursday would give the Huskies their second all-time trip to the Big East Championship after they advanced to the finals for the first time last season.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
Temple earned the No. 3 seed in its first-ever Big East Tournament berth after dominating Georgetown, 11-4, in its final match of the regular season. Riding a three-game win streak, the Owls hold a 12-5 overall record with a 4-3 showing in conference games headed into the postseason.
Leading goal scorer, senior Rachel Schwaab currently leads the Owls with 47 points (31g, 16a) followed by classmates Brenda McDermott with 45 points (25g, 20a) and Megan Tiernan with 40 (25g, 15a).
Senior goalkeeper Jaqi Kakalecik has started in all 17 matches for Temple, and has recorded 111 saves so far this season. Her .500 save percentage is the second-best in the league behind Nee, and she boasts the top goals against average in the conference (6.50).
THE SERIES
UConn leads the all-time series against Temple 3-2 heading into Thursday's semifinal match-up. The Huskies and the Owls met during the regular season where UConn broke the even 2-2 series to go up 3-2 with an exciting 9-8 win in overtime on the road at Geasey Field.
Senior captain Alyson Fazio (Methuen, Mass.) netted the game-winning goal in overtime to push the Huskies to victory while classmate and fellow captain Alexandra Crofts (Westport, Conn.) led the team with three goals, her second consecutive hat trick of the season.
UP NEXT…
The winner of Thursday's game will advance to the Big East Championship game on Saturday, May 7 at 2 p.m. where it will take on the winner between top seeded Florida and No. 4 seeded Georgetown at Cooper Field.
