University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
University of Denver
Huskies Host No. 22 Denver in BIG EAST Battle for First Place
4/8/2021 12:08:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
STORRS, Conn. – After a weekend off the UConn women's lacrosse team returns to action and to Joseph J. Morrone Stadium this weekend to host No. 22 nationally ranked Denver Pioneers in a battle for first place in the BIG EAST.
Both the Huskies and Pioneers enter this weekend sitting atop the conference standings at 4-0 on the season. UConn is off to their best start since the 2016 campaign and are 8-2 overall on the year. Denver has lost just once, their season opener at Colorado, and have ripped off six-straight wins heading into this weekend's series. Denver was the favorite in this season's BIG EAST preseason coaches' poll.
The Huskies and Pioneers have the top-two scoring offenses in the BIG EAST heading into this weekend's slate. UConn is tops in the conference averaging 16.10 goals per game while Denver comes in at 15.29. The Pioneers own the stingiest defensive unit in the conference at 8.29 goals allowed per game, a number that ranks eighth nationally. They also lead the league and are second in the country in caused turnovers at 13.29 per game. The Huskies are second in the conference allowing 10.19 goals per game.
Last Time Out… The Huskies moved to 4-0 in the BIG EAST after sweeping their second-straight road series with two wins at Butler. Senior Sydney Watson (Prince Fredrick, Md.) nabbed her fourth BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week nod after putting up five goals, three assists and winning 16 draw controls on the weekend. Sophomore Kate Shaffer (West Hartford, Conn.) set a new career-high with five goals while adding an assist in Friday's 22-11 win that tied the school record for team goals scored in a game. The Huskies also set a new school record with 25 draw controls in the win. In Sunday's 19-4 win, 10 different Huskies scored led by junior Grace Coon (Marcellus, N.Y.) who paced the offense by matching her season-high with four goals.
All-time Series vs. Denver … The Huskies are 0-3 all-time against the University of Denver. This will be just the second trip to Storrs for the Pioneers who won a 13-5 decision in Connecticut in the last meeting between the two schools back in 2018. Denver also posted home wins, 21-13 win in 2008 and 16-11 in 2017, their first season in the BIG EAST.
Stat Leaders… The Huskies lead the BIG EAST in goals per game (16.10), shot percentage (.514), and man-up goals (16), ranking seventh in the NCAA in shot percentage and eighth in scoring offense. Offensively, the Huskies also rank second in scoring margin (+5.80) and third in shots per game (31.30).
Senior Sydney Watson is leading the league in goals (35) and goals per game (3.50). Her 35 goals ranks 13th nationally. Watson leads four Huskies in the top-10 in goal scoring conference wide as sophomore Kate Shaffer comes in fifth goals per game (2.40), junior Lia LaPrise (Windsor, Conn.) is seventh (2.30) and junior Grace Coon is ninth (2.12). LaPrise is the BIG EAST points leader with 45 and she also leads in points per game (4.50).
The Huskies lead the BIG EAST in draw controls, averaging 15.80 per game. Watson leads the charge averaging 9.00 per game, also ranking sixth in the nation.
Defensively, UConn is second in the BIG EAST in scoring defense at 10.19 goals allowed per game. The Huskies are tops in save percentage (.464) and second in saves per game (8.90).
Sydney Watson Added to the Tewaaraton Watch List... 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.
BACK in a BIG EAST Groove… After playing the past two seasons in the American Athletic Conference, the Huskies are back home in the BIG EAST. Due to COVID-19 protocols, teams will play two-game series against each other this spring for a total of 10 league games.
After this weekend's set, UConn heads back on the road to Villanova on April 16 & 18 and are back in Storrs to host Georgetown on April 23 & 25 in the final weekend of the regular season. The BIG EAST Tournament is set for May 6 and 8.
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). The Huskies were tabbed 4th in the Preseason BIG EAST Coaches' Poll while senior Sydney Watson and junior Lia LaPrise were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team. Watson was a unanimous pick.
