University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies to Face Florida State in NCAA Third Round
11/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
STORRS, CT (Nov. 17) – Kristen Graczyk (Albuquerque, NM) scored the game-winner in overtime to lift the Huskies to a 2-1 NCAA second round win over Rhode Island on Sunday. Connecticut improves to 20-2-1 with the win as the Rams end their season at 16-6-1.
The Huskies dominated the first half, out-shooting the Rams 17-1, but Rhode Island goaltender Jamie Epperlein kept the Rams in the game, making nine saves in net. Salla Ranta (Helsinki, Finland) led Connecticut with six shots in the first 45 minutes, including four on net.
Graczyk came out with a goal halfway through the second half, beating Epperlein for the breakthrough goal. Ranta sent a ball into the box to Graczyk, who in turn dribbled around a defender and found the net. Rhode Island answered back less than ten minutes later when Melanie Kasparek received a long pass from Trisha Hewitt and took it to the box. She managed to get it around Connecticut goalkeeper Maria Yatrakis (Brooklyn, NY) for the game-tier.
The two teams headed into overtime with the Huskies out-shooting the Rams, 29-3 in regulation. It didn’t take Graczyk long to sink the game-winner, as her second goal of the game came just 2:11 into the sudden-victory overtime period. Sarah Popper (Penn Yan, NY) chipped a ball over a defender to Graczyk, who beat Epperlein as she was coming out for the save. The game-winner was her fifth of the season.
Final shots were 30-3 in favor of the Huskies. Yatrakis made one save in the win as Epperlein stopped 13 for the Rams.
Graczyk’s team-leading 15th goal advances Connecticut to the third round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Challenge Cup, where they will face Florida State on Sunday, November 24 at 1 p.m. at Morrone Stadium.
