UConn Opens Season With 2-1 Win Over CCSU

Saturday, August 21

Storrs, Conn.

5:00 PM

University of Connecticut

1-0-0, 0-0-0

CCSU

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Central Conn. St.

UConn

Photo by: Stephen Slade

8/21/2021 7:46:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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STORRS, Conn. – Sophomore Jada Konte and senior Duda Santin each scored to lead the UConn women's soccer team (1-0-0) past CCSU (0-1-0), 2-1, in the 2021 season opener Saturday evening at Morrone Stadium.

"The first game is always high intensity," head coach Margaret Rodriguez said. There's big emotions, and I think to face an in-state rival, the intensity was going to be up there. I was really proud of our players, we got fatigued, we rotated some players in there. I think some players stepped up in big roles and it was a gut check for us. We found our grit and we scored when we needed to score."

Santin also notched an assist for three points. Junior Jessica Mazo also recorded an assist.

The Huskies had a few great early chances in the game, including back-to-back shots that went off the goal post. The Blue Devils were able to score first at 37:24.

Just over three minutes later at 41:55, Santin scored the equalizer. She took a pass from Mazo from the left side and found the back of the net. The teams took a 1-1 score into halftime.

After a quiet start to the second half, Santin sent a shot into the box that hit the crossbar and landed at Konte's feet. Konte collected the ball and scored the game winner at 79:46.

"They were relentless," Rodriguez said of the goal scorers. "Duda gives us a sense of her Brazilian flair out there and she knows the game. Konte is relentless and athletic. It was a great goal."

Sophomore goalkeeper Kaitlyn Mahoney finished the game with four saves.

The game featured former UConn letterwinners Rodriguez and her twin sister and CCSU assistant coach Jen Prozzo. The Tietjen sisters graduated from UConn in 1999.

"It feels great postgame," Rodriguez said. "There were a lot of emotions building up coming into this game and now that I won, I can say that I loved the game."

The Huskies are back in action next Thursday at Morrone to host La Salle (0-0-0) at 7 p.m.