University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Boston University
WSOC Kicks Off 2023 Regular Season vs. BU on Sunday Night
8/19/2023 9:54:00 PM | Women's Soccer
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn women's soccer team opens its 2023 season on Sunday, August 20 against Boston University (1-0) at 7 p.m. at Morrone Stadium. The game can be streamed for free on UConn+.
The Huskies finished 8-6-4 with a .556 winning percentage last season, the highest winning percentage since the 2016 NCAA Tournament squad. UConn went 4-4-2 in BIG EAST play, finishing in sixth place and earning a trip to the BIG EAST Championship. The Huskies lost to St. John's in penalty kicks in the BIG EAST Championship First Round.
UConn returns 10 of the 11 starters that played in the BIG EAST Tournament game including four fifth year seniors. Jackie Harnett, Cara Jordan, Jessica Mazo and Emma Zaccagnini. The four have played a combined 232 minutes during their time in Storrs.
A two-time All-BIG EAST performer, Mazo, played with the Columbian National team during the spring before the team departed for the 2023 World Cup this summer.
Goalkeeper Kaitlyn Mahoney returns for her senior season after starting the past two seasons. Mahoney Ranked third in the BIG EAST in save percentage (.825) and fourth in goals against average (0.80). Junior MaryKate Ward returns from injury after playing two games last year before her injury. Freshman Elizabeth DiBlasi joins the Huskies in 2023.
Joining Harnett on defense are seniors Lucy Cappadona, Chloe Landers, junior Laci Lewis and incoming Indiana University transfer Kelly Monaco. Evelyn Arsenault returns after an injury last season cost her all but two games.
Junior Yasmin Rosewell, freshman Maya Mathis and Penn State/Bryant transfer Anna Carson are also expected to help out the defense this season.
In the midfield, experienced juniors Sophie McCarthy, Joyce Ryder return with Zaccagnini and Mazo. Sophomore Abbey Merchant makes her return to the field after missing all of last season with injury. Freshmen Lydia LeBlanc, Jessica Carr and Anaya Johnson will aid the midfield.
Four of the top five scorers on the frontline return for the Huskies: Abbey Jones (3 Goals, 7 Assists), Chioma Okafor (6 Goals, 1 Assist), Cara Jordan (2 Goals, 3 Assists) and Maddie Carroll (3 Goals). Senior Cara Elmendorf and sophomore Izzy Gomez rejoin the Huskies after battling injuries during the 2022 season.
Okafor earned Second Team All-BIG EAST accolades a season ago and garnered preseason All-Conference honors ahead of the upcoming season. The Blantyre, Malawi native came on strong during the end of last season with four goals in the Huskies final two matches.
A bunch of newcomers look to contribute to the scoring in 2023 with Yale graduate transfer Giovanna Dionicio arriving with a freshmen forward group of Alayna Taylor, Lexi Taylor and Brooke Walonis.
