University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Marquette University
Huskies Open BIG EAST Play at Marquette
3/18/2021 12:00:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
STORRS, Conn. – The Huskies will open up BIG EAST play this weekend with a pair of games at Marquette. UConn will take on the Golden Eagles on Friday, March 19 at 5 pm EST and finish the weekend series on Sunday, March 21 at 1 pm EST.
Back to BIG EAST Play… After playing the past two seasons in the American Athletic Conference, the Huskies make their return to the BIG EAST Conference officially this weekend. UConn qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament for five-straight years from 2013 through 2016 while head coach Katie Woods and her staff were twice named the Coach / Coaching Staff of the Year (2013, 2015).
Due to COVID-19 protocols, teams will play two-game series against each other this spring for a total of 10 league games. After the opening weekend at Marquette, the Huskies will play at Butler on March 26 and 27 and at Villanova on April 16 and 18. UConn will host Denver on April 9 and 11 and Georgetown on April 23 and 25. The BIG EAST Tournament is set for May 6 and 8 at Georgetown.
All-Time Series with Marquette... The Huskies lead the all-time series, 5-1. UConn won the first five match-ups between the two schools but lost the last meeting, a 15-14 decision on the road in the 2018 regular season finale, their final game in the BIG EAST before their two seasons in the AAC.
Last Week... For the second-straight game the UConn and Massachusetts women's lacrosse teams played an overtime contest with Saturday's decision going to the Minutewomen, 15-14, at Garber Field. The re-match featured 11 ties and eight lead changes as UMass got the game-winner with just two seconds left in the first overtime with Olivia Muscella scoring her second of the day to deliver the win. The Huskies got a career-high four-goals from sophomore Kate Shaffer (West Hartford, Conn.) while junior Grace Coon (Marcellus, N.Y.) got her first goals on the season, scoring three times in the loss. Senior Sydney Watson (Prince Fredrick, Md.) and junior Lia LaPrise (Windsor, Conn.) each had two goals with an assist. Watson also added 12 draw controls to her stat line
BIG EAST Weekly Awards… Sophomore Kate Shaffer (West Hartford, Conn.) was named the BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Attacker of the Week on Monday marking the third-straight week a Husky has taken home a weekly award. In a back-and-forth battle with UMass last Saturday, Shaffer gave the Huskies the lead three times (2-1, 6-5, 11-10) and tied the game at 12-12 with under nine minutes to play. She finished game with a team-high four goals and game-high 10 shots while adding a ground ball. Shaffer's four goals tied for the BIG EAST single-game high last week, as did her 10 shots. On the season, Shaffer is second on the team with 15 goals scored on the season. She has scored 15 times on 30 shots this season (.500).
NCAA Stat Leaders... The Huskies are currently leading BIG EAST and are 20th nationally averaging 15.17 draw controls per game. The Huskies are also leading the league in ground balls per game, 20.67, and are 14th in the nation. UConn's offense is averaging 14.67 goals per game, second to Marquette in the BIG EAST and 17th nationally. Defensively, the Huskies are second in giving up 10.33 goals per-game.
Watson is leading the country in draw controls, averaging 9.50 per game. Her 23 goals are first in the league and eighth nationally. She averages 3.83 goals per game. LaPrise is leading the league in assists (13) and assists per game (2.17), ranking 10th and 22nd, respectively, in the nation.
In goal, junior Landyn White (Alpharetta, Ga.) is first in the BIG EAST with 52 saves, 16th in the NCAA, and first in the league averaging 8.67 saves per game.
Sydney Watson Added to the Tewaaraton Watch List... It was also announced last week that senior Sydney Watson has been named to the 2021 Tewaaraton Award women's watch lists announced by the Tewaaraton Foundation. The award honors the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. Watson is in the midst of sensational senior season, having scored 23 goals with two assists in the first six games. The senior midfielder also has a team-leading 57 draw controls.
Preseason Polls and Awards… The Huskies were tabbed 4th in the Preseason BIG EAST Coaches' Poll while Watson and LaPrise were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team. Watson was a unanimous pick.
