University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Downed By No. 2 Irish
10/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NOTRE DAME, IN (October 17) - The No. 14 University of Connecticut women’s soccer team suffered a 2-0 setback to BIG EAST Mid Atlantic Division opponent and No. 2 nationally ranked Notre Dame Friday evening in Notre Dame, IN. The loss drops the Huskies' record to 8-4-3 on the campaign, while the Irish remain unbeaten at 15-0-1. The contest was an interdivisional match-up within the BIG EAST and therefore does not factor in to conference records.
Notre Dame got on the board at the 19:14 mark. After a sensational save by UConn keeper Erin Rice (Keller, TX) ND was awarded a corner kick that they capitalized on. Christie Shaner served the ball into the box that bounced off a couple players before Melissa Tancredi hit a header into the right side of the net, giving the Irish an early 1-0 advantage. Notre Dame’s Lizzie Reed took advantage of a ball the UConn defense failed to clear at 40:33. The Husky backline attempted to clear the ball out of its defensive third, but Reed controlled the ball and struck it into the back of the net giving ND a 2-0 edge it would take into halftime.
UConn had several good scoring chances in the first stanza and were only out shot 5-to-3 by ND. UConn’s best opportunity came at the 30 minute mark. Freshman standout Meghan Schnur (Butler, PA) put a 15 yard roller on a streaking Jessica Gjertsen’s (Stony Plain, Alberta) foot. Gjertsen fired a shot from 10 yards out that was gobbled up by ND keeper Erika Bohn, preserving the shutout.
The Irish controlled play in the second half, limiting the Huskies to only one shot, while ND mustered six attempts in the second session. The victory marks the 49th consecutive BIG EAST home win for the Irish. ND’s last loss to a league opponent at home came at the hands of UConn in 1995.
Rice made five saves in net for the Huskies, and Bohn stopped two shots for the Irish.
The Huskies are back in action Tuesday, October 21 when they take on BIG EAST foe St. John’s at Morrone Stadium in Storrs. The match is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.
