Off the Pitch with Coach Ray Reid: Oct. 3, 2007
 

Well, the month of September is now in the books. This past weekend, the Huskies defeated St. John’s University 3-0 in front of a crowd of 5,116 and defeated Syracuse University in front of 4,263 spectators.

Playing these BIG EAST weekends (Friday and Sunday) is not easy task. It is a very difficult venture. Our league is probably the most difficult to navigate in college soccer. I thought our boys showed great resilience on Sunday facing a very good, very tough Syracuse team.

On Friday evening, our first goal was as beautiful as any we have scored in my ten years at UCONN. On the side of the box, Oscar Castillo cut a ball back to Michael Pezza who hit it first time, whipping a hard low ball across the box. Ryan Cordeiro came running across and off the bounce scored a magnificent diving header. Cordeiro and Akeem Priestly would score in the second half. Against Syracuse, Pezza served a great ball to Julius James to get Julius his first goal of the year.

The boys had two great matches over the weekend, but some guys who don’t always get the glory, were outstanding. Cordeiro and Pezza continue to do all the little things that help make us go. Cordeiro has really matured and is playing the best soccer of his career. In the back Greg King, Oscar Castillo, Kwame Watson-Siriboe and Julius James continue to do a tremendous job anchoring our defense. Dori Arad was excellent in both matches. Roberto Squeglia was a great injection at right midfield on Sunday. Finally, Joe Boa and Louis Jones did a great job in the center of the midfield on Sunday.

I again would like to thank the Goal Patrol for their support at both matches. You young ladies and men are the best college soccer fans in the country. You are very important to our players.

The Huskies will host in-state rival University of Hartford in a crucial match tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Joseph Morrone Stadium and return to Big East action on Saturday, October 6 versus University of Pittsburgh at 7:00 p.m. also at Morrone Stadium.