University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies ready for stern challenge at No. 17 Miami
9/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
After dispatching of St. John’s and Virginia Tech last week, the No. 11 Connecticut Huskies will face a tougher challenge this Friday at Miami. Not only are the Hurricanes ranked No. 17 in this week’s NSCAA/adidas poll, but they are also making noise in the BIG EAST Northeast Division. Picked in the preseason to finish fourth in the division, Miami has surprised most by keeping pace with the Huskies atop the standings.
Only in its fourth year of women’s soccer, Miami’s improvement this season has come in leaps and bounds. The Hurricanes got off to their best start ever after knocking off No. 20 and intrastate rival Florida on Sept. 9 to go 5-0. The win, Miami’s first over a ranked opponent, also vaulted them to No. 14 in the NSCAA Poll. After an overtime loss to Florida International, the Hurricanes rebounded to down nationally-ranked Syracuse 4-2 and improve to 1-0-0 in the conference.
The Huskies, though, will be ready for the challenge. Forwards Kristen Graczyk and Jessica Gjertsen (left) each scored three goals last week, earning them BIG EAST Rookie and Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors, respectively. Graczyk, a freshman from Albuquerque, NM, leads both the team and the BIG EAST in scoring with six goals and two assists for 14 points. A sophomore transfer from Memphis, Gjertsen has a team best three game-winning goals and stands tied for fifth in scoring in the conference.
UConn’s back line has been stingy of late, as the Huskies have pitched shutouts in their last three games. The defensive combination of seniors Casey Zimny and Kristin Gardiner (right) and juniors Lauren Naida and Naima Montacer has held opponents to 18 shots during that span, and goalkeepers Erin Rice and Shanna Caldwell have only had to make 13 saves. It will be this group’s responsibility to stop Miami’s duo of Vonda Matthews and Laura West, who have fueled the Hurricanes to the top of the BIG EAST in scoring.
Lost in the importance of this game may be the fact that the win against Virginia Tech on Sunday was the 349th of head coach Len Tsantiris’ career. The 21st-year head coach will be looking for his 350th win on Friday, a feat only North Carolina’s Anson Dorrance has accomplished. No other coach in collegiate women's soccer has even reached the 300-win mark.
Connecticut will complete its weekend with a home game against Providence on Sunday, Sept. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Morrone Stadium.
