Juul Sauer Scores OT Winner as Huskies Defeat #18 Liberty

Friday, October 25

Storrs, CT

1:00 PM

University of Connecticut

(14-2)

Liberty

(9-6)

LIBERTY

UConn

Juul Sauer Scores OT Winner as Huskies Defeat #18 Liberty

10/25/2024 3:27:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

STORRS, Conn. – The UConn women's field hockey improves to 9-0 at home after defeating no.18 Liberty in overtime by a final of 2-1. Freshman Juul Sauer scored the overtime winner just 44 seconds into the overtime period to give the Huskies the victory.

The first half was a defensive battle with neither team able to generate much offense. After the first quarter, the Huskies generated just two total shots, one shot on goal, while holding Liberty to zero shots. The second quarter the teams' offenses came alive, thanks to penalty corners. Liberty struck first with eight minutes remaining in the second quarter as they scored off their first penalty corner of the match to take the 1-0 lead. It didn't take long for the Huskies to respond as they were awarded a penalty corner of their own and capitalized when Sol Simone deflected the Sophie Perschk shot past the netminder. Neither team was able to find the back of the net the rest of the second quarter as they entered the half all tied at one.

In the second half, Liberty's offense came alive, peppering sophomore goalkeeper Natalie McKenna with shots, but the UConn defense and Mckenna stood strong turning away every opportunity. Early in the fourth quarter following a Liberty corner, the flames were able to find the back of the net, but following a lengthy review, the goal was called off and things remained tied at one. The Huskies had a chance to win the game in regulation as they were awarded a penalty corner with five seconds remaining in the game, but the Liberty defense did not allow a single shot attempt while defending the corner. With neither team able to find the net in regulation the game headed to a sudden death OT.

44 seconds into the overtime period, junior Sol Simone took the ball down the right side of the field through the defense and passed it to freshman Juul Sauer who hit the one timer for the game winning goal. With the win, UConn improves to 9-0 at home and clinches a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament in Providence Rhode Island.

UP NEXT: The Huskies will welcome no. 12 Syracuse University to Storrs for the final home match of the regular season. The match can be streamed live on UConn+.