University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Falls to Instate Rival Yale, 1-0
10/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
STORRS, CT (October 1) – Yale University’s Alex Munns scored the lone goal of the game to give Yale University a 1-0 victory over the University of Connecticut men’s soccer team on Wednesday evening at Morrone Stadium in Storrs. Connecticut’s record falls to 3-4-2 overall, while Yale improves its overall record to an even 3-3. The win was the first for the Eli’s in the teams last nine meetings, making the tenth the winner. The Huskies’ loss breaks a 20-game regular season win streak on home turf at Morrone Stadium, and 18-overall game streak, also at home.
The Bulldogs got the scoring started quickly at 13:04. Munns controlled a feed from Andrew Dealy at the top of the goal box and fired a left-footed shot that drew into the top right hand corner just off the tip of a diving Jamie Verab’s (Naugatuck, CT) hands, giving Yale a 1-0 advantage. The half was played quite evenly, as both teams managed just three shots and one shot on goal. UConn did have a couple of good scoring chances, the best coming with nine minutes remaining in the first stanza. Steve Sealy (St. James, Trinidad) broke through the Eli defense at the top of the goal box, realizing he and Yale keeper Matt Aleksinas were equidistant from the ball. The two raced towards each other, Aleksinas dove and controlled the ball, narrowly beating Sealy as the UConn forward tumbled over the Eli stopper.
UConn had several scoring chances in the second half of play, dominating the playing field. In the 51-minute mark of the game, Lindon Pecorelli (LaCrescenta, CA) dribbled into the UConn offensive box, and dished the ball over to Sealy who shot a close range ball, which was stuffed by Yale’s Aleksinas. Cesar Cuellar (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) gathered the rebound and forced another shot, which was deflected away by Eli defenseman Marc Vimloratana. Again UConn had an another solid scoring chance with just under 10-minutes remaining in regulation. Drew Brown (Middletown, CT) fed the ball to a cutting Sealy from up the middle. Sealy beat the defense controlling the ball in the goal box, but was denied the scoring chance when Aleksinas made the diving save right in front of Sealy. Then, with 40-seconds left in regulation, defender Moshe Shalchon (Rishon Lezioh, Israel) had a last ditch effort, heading the ball but hitting the left goal post.
UConn’s regular starting keeper Adam Schuerman (Brookfield, WI) missed his second straight start and first career miss at home tonight, after a pregame injury sustained at West Virginia. Verab made his first collegiate start in net making one stop, while Aleksinas recorded six saves for the Eli’s, plus a team save by Vimloratana. Despite the loss, UConn out shot Yale, 15-7, including 12 second-half shots by the Huskies.
UConn will play host to BIG EAST opponent Villanova on Saturday, October 4 at 7:00 pm at Morrone Stadium.
