Women’s Soccer Defeats URI, 2-0, in Long-Awaited Season Opener

Sunday, February 21

Storrs, Conn.

2:00 PM

University of Connecticut

1-0

University of Rhode Island

0-2

Rhode Island

UConn

Photo by: Stephen Slade

Women’s Soccer Defeats URI, 2-0, in Long-Awaited Season Opener

2/21/2021 4:44:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

STORRS, Conn. – Junior forward Kess Elmore scored UConn's first goal of the season and the Huskies defense made it stand up as the University of Connecticut women's soccer team defeated URI, 2-0, and opened the beautiful Joseph J. Morrone Stadium at Rizza Performance Center in style.

The Rams slipped to 0-2 on the season.

"Prior to the game we talked to the team and said 'it's been a year and three months since we played a game but it's been two years and three months since we played a game on campus,'" head coach Margaret Rodriguez said. "So that's a lot of time and all our momentum was building towards this game. But we wanted to keep our emotions in check and not go crazy! So we finally confirmed that we had a game today, yesterday at 4 p.m. and then we just needed to stick to our game plan. We knew that we were confident and well prepared so we needed to make sure that we executed what we have been doing. And the team did just that."

Both the Huskies men's and women's soccer teams competed at Hartford's Dillon Stadium during the 2019 season while their spectacular on-campus home was under construction.

Elmore's goal, which was the 10^th of her career, came just 4:17 into the contest. Yamilee Eveillard intercepted a URI pass deep in the Ram's zone and struck a cross deep into the box where Elmore was waiting. She drilled it into the lower right-hand corner, past a diving Teresa Morrissey.

"The first goal, getting on board, was exactly what we needed," Rodriguez said. "We needed it early and we needed to take a little pressure off of ourselves. When Kess got herself in that situation, everyone was confident that she would tuck it away home."

Lucy Cappadona gave the Huskies some insurance at 31:13 after Jessica Mazo took advantage of a misplayed ball by Morrissey and dished to Jaydah Bedoya, who found Cappadona in front of an open net.

"The second goal from Lucy, who is a freshman, kind of framing our back post was really a quality goal," Rodriguez said.

The Huskies dominated all facets of the contest and outshot the Rams 11-2 overall, including 5-1 in shots on goal. UConn also created three corner kick opportunities while not allowing URI a single corner.

The Huskies are back in action when the team welcomes Northeastern to Storrs on Sunday, February 28. Game time is set for 12 p.m. at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium at Rizza Performance Center.