Huskies Pull Past Providence, 2-1

Boxscore

STORRS, CT (October 9) – With a late first half goal from Damani Ralph (Kingston, Jamaica), the Huskies pulled ahead of Providence College to win their sixth straight contest, edging past the Friars, 2-1, on Wednesday evening at Morrone Stadium.  UConn improves to 9-2-0 overall and 5-1-0 in the BIG EAST, as Providence fell to 3-8-0, 2-4-0 BE. 

Connecticut got out to an early start at the 1:01 mark of the game.  Jonathan Alva-Cavero took a handball just inside the left side of the offensive box on a free kick from Leandro de Oliveira (Sao Paulo, Brazil).  UConn opted Cesar Cuellar (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) to take the penalty shot that was shot into the center of the net as Providence goalie Jeff Newman dove the opposite way of the shot ball.  At the near end of the half, Todd Stigliano lobbed the ball over UConn keeper Adam Schuerman (Brookfield, CT), who was sliding for the save.  Connecticut prevailed 1:22 later on Ralph’s (Kingston, Jamaica) team-leading tenth goal of the season.  Fernando Morales (Miami, FL) passed the ball forward to Ralph, who shot it from just inside the box, five yards from the baseline. The ball banked in off the opposite post into the center of the net.

The second half remained scoreless, but the roughness of the game was turned up by both teams. 

Connecticut goaltender Schuerman denied one shot in the win, as Newman stopped five but took home the loss.  The Huskies out shot Providence 13-7. 

Connecticut will play host to No. 6 Maryland on Saturday, October 12 at 7:00 pm at Morrone Stadium.