University of Connecticut Athletics
Men's Soccer 2009 Season Wrap-Up
12/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Dec. 2, 2009
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut men's soccer team wrapped up its 2009 season by making their 30th overall and 12th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies, who fell to Monmouth in a 4-3 shootout in the NCAA Tournament first round, earned their 11th BIG EAST Regular Season title en route to an 11-4-4 overall record.
The regular season crown was the 18th BIG EAST title during the program's 27-year stint in the conference, while the Huskies have won at least a share of the conference crown three times in the last five seasons. Since head coach Ray Reid took over at the helm of the UConn men's soccer program, the Huskies have won seven regular season championships, including titles in almost every other year beginning in 1998. Under the leadership of Reid, the Huskies won the BIG EAST Regular Season title in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2009.
UConn also allowed just 10 goals on the year, the lowest number of goals allowed in program history other than the 1948 NSCAA Championship season, a year in which the men's soccer program played in just 11 games and allowed fewer goals (4). The Huskies spent all but one week ranked in the top-25 of the NSCAA/adidas Poll, finishing the regular season ranked ninth in the country. In Division I men's soccer, UConn was ranked fourth at the end of the regular season in shutout percentage, sixth in goals against average and ninth in save percentage with a mark of .863.
During the regular season, the Huskies led the BIG EAST in assists with 38 as well as assists per game with a tally of 2.24 per contest. The Huskies also led the conference in goals against average (0.51) and shutouts (12). UConn defeated two prominent programs in nationally-ranked Harvard and St. John's. UConn downed the Crimson 4-0 on a weekday night in Storrs, Conn. after beating out St. John's 1-0 at Morrone Stadium in BIG EAST Conference action.
The Huskies had much individual success throughout the year as well, led by redshirt junior Josh Ford, who broke the UConn record in shutouts with his 39th career shutout against Monmouth. Ford tied former UConn standout Adam Schuerman (2002-05) at 38 in the Huskies' 3-0 win over Marquette which clinched the BIG EAST Blue Division title on Nov. 2 and now takes over as the sole leader on UConn's all-time career shutouts list in just his third season with the program.
Fellow captain, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, also led the Huskies in 2009 as he was named the 2009 BIG EAST Co-Defender of the Year while earning a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team. Watson-Siriboe earned BIG EAST Defender of the Week honors twice in 2009 and was named to the Soccer America Men's Team of the Week on Sept. 28. The senior finished the year earning a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer.com Men's College First Team.
Freshman Carlos Alvarez had an electrifying rookie campaign for the Huskies as he led the Nation in assists as well as the BIG EAST Conference. Alvarez, who was named the 2009 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, earned a spot on both the All-BIG EAST Third Team as well as the All-BIG EAST Rookie Team. His efforts throughout the year gave him the opportunity to be one of the best freshmen in the country as he earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors three consecutive weeks from Oct. 12 - Oct 26. Alvarez was also named ECAC Offensive Player of the Week and the Soccer America National Player of the Week on Oct. 20. He was also chosen for the Soccer America Team of the Week twice as well as the CollegeSoccer.com National Team of the Week on Oct. 19. To end the season he earned a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer.com Men's All-Rookie First Team.
Ford's successful season in net for the Huskies was good enough to place him on the All-BIG EAST Third Team with Alvarez as he led the conference with a 0.51 goals against average and 12 shutouts during the regular season. He was given Goalkeeper of the Week honors once, while being named ECAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 13. He also earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 14 and 28. Toni Stahl, Mike Pezza and Tony Cascio also brought in much success for the Huskies in 2009 as Stahl was once again a unanimous selection for the All-BIG EAST First Team and was named the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year. His dominate presence in the midfield, along with both Cascio and Pezza, made UConn a fierce competitor in he nation.
Cascio, who led the Huskies with seven goals in 2009, was also an All-BIG EAST First Team selection, while Pezza, who missed five games midway through the year, was chosen for the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Nov. 3 to finish out the regular season. Max Wasserman also earned a weekly honor roll status on Oct. 26 after scoring his first collegiate goal at Yale.
Junior Robert Brickley was named BIG EAST Defender of the Week on Oct. 5 and led the Huskies academically, earning Academic All-District Second Team honors for Division I District 1.
Freshmen Stephane DIOP and Jossimar Sanchez joined Alvarez on the 2009 All-BIG EAST Rookie Team after contributing to the Huskies' success.
