(CSTV U-WIRE) STORRS, Conn. -- It was a classic example of what the women's soccer team could do to its opponents, as the No. 23 (NSCAA poll) Huskies defeated Brown on Friday, 5-1 and Fairfield, 4-1, on Sunday, when they hosted the UConn Classic this weekend, demonstrating their depth in the process.
Though Friday and Sunday were two completely different games, the result was the same. Friday saw the Huskies break out the game early, while it wasn't until the second half of Sunday's game until the offense really started clicking. Both of the opponent's goals were scored during momentary defensive lapses. The Bears' lone goal on Friday was on a shot by Kiki Manners 22 seconds after the Huskies scored their fifth goal of the night, a rare breakdown of UConn's defense as the team was caught back on its heels. Fairfield scored on a penalty kick with less than five minutes left in the game.
The Huskies came out strong Friday, scoring less than two minutes into the game on a shot fired into the top left corner by Annie Yi. Twenty minutes later, UConn found itself up three goals, with the Brown defense unable to shut down the Huskies offense for most of the game.
On the other hand, the game against Fairfield was expected to be a "tough and physical game" and a hard-fought match-up, according to Schnur. Once the whistle blew, it became apparent that Schnur's prediction was right. The Huskies found themselves pressured often by the Stags' offense Sunday. UConn didn't back down, challenging defenders and using its speed and athleticism to its advantage. The defense never faltered, as someone was always there to break up the Stags' run toward the goal. On one Fairfield breakaway, Stephanie Labbe found herself all alone, but batted the ball out of bounds. On the corner kick that followed, Labbe soared through the air and landed on top of a Fairfield player, all the while preventing the ball from finding the back of the net.
In Friday's game, the Huskies dominated the field, showing their strength up top.
On Sunday, both teams were aggressive from the start, as players were knocked around the field without penalties called. Several times during the course of the game, fans yelled at the officials in disapproval. In the second half, however, it appeared that the officials were growing tired of the physical play when Fairfield's Amanda Vargo was carded after a collision with Lauren Ebert. Both opposing coaches felt that playing the Huskies tested their teams.
"I always love playing UConn," said Brown's head coach Phil Pincince. "They're a very athletic team and they're very well-coached and fast. For us, it's a great game. Anytime we can play Connecticut, a ranked team, we want to do it."
"We like to test ourselves at the highest level and needless to say, UConn is," said Fairfield head coach Jim O'Brien.
Captain Karyn Riviere, whom Schnur called a "goal machine," led UConn on offense this weekend, scoring two goals in the game against the Bears and a third on Sunday. Less than 11 minutes into Sunday's game, Riviere challenged Fairfield's goalkeeper and knocked her down in the process, which left the net wide open as Riviere fired a shot into the goal.
"I think as a competitor, of course it's frustrating," Riviere said about missing a hat trick by inches after Friday night's game. "But we were winning by a lot and playing well, so as long as the team's doing well, I don't mind."
Head coach Len Tsantiris said it was difficult to get everyone in, but that when the team performed well and "gelled," it gave other players the opportunity to play. The success of the Huskies also allowed for flexibility in positioning players, as Schnur played forward for the duration of the weekend, something she called "a midfielder's dream." The players have sported a hot pink stripe in their hair since their win over CCSU last week as a good luck charm, according to Erin Clark, who had two goals this weekend.
"It's probably the first time in my four years here that we have a team that no matter who steps on the pitch, we know they're going to give 110 percent and the level of play doesn't drop," Schnur said after Friday's game. "I can't say enough about the team we have right now and the potential."
(C) 2007 The Daily Campus via U-WIRE
