University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Syracuse
UConn Finishes Weekend with 2-0 Victory over Syracuse
9/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 27, 2009
STORRS, Conn. - Cruz Hernandez scored his first goal of the season as the University of Connecticut men's soccer team downed Syracuse 2-0 in BIG EAST Conference play on Sunday night. After its BIG EAST sweep over the weekend with wins over the Orange and St. John's, UConn improves to 4-2-2 overall and 3-1-0 in the conference.
At the 11 minute mark freshman Stephane DIOP sent a pass to Hernandez down the far side of the field, who dribbled through a few Orange defenders and then drilled a shot toward the net, connecting on his second career goal for the Huskies.
The Huskies took a 2-0 lead at the 15 minute mark as sophomore Tony Cascio took a rebound off a Syracuse (1-8-0, 0-3-0 BIG EAST) save and sent the ball into the lower right corner of the net for his second goal of the year. The first shot of the play came from Alan Ponce by the near post as Syracuse's Ryan Jones used his hands to deflect the ball away from the net, but Cascio, who was able to sneak by defenders, was right in front of the goal area and got a hold of the rebound.
UConn continued to dominate over the weekend in tonight's contest as the Huskies outshot the Orange 17-5, including the one shot allowed by the Huskies in the first half.
The Huskies controlled the ball throughout the game as they recorded 12 shots in the first half, led by Cascio, who continued to play aggressively this season for UConn. After scoring his fourth career goal, Cascio made a nice move to get a shot off from the near corner of the box but his attempt was stopped by a sliding Jones. Ponce also made a nice cut towards the inside of the goal box but missed high in the 20th minute..
DIOP used his speed and found an opening for a header in the 27th minute but sent his attempt wide of the net before missing high on his second shot of the game just over a minute later. Hernandez looked like he was going to extend the UConn lead but his shot in the 38th minute went high after he broke away from Orange defenders to get his shot off.
It remained the Huskies' game in the second half as Ford made all three of his saves in the frame to earn his fifth shutout of the season and the 31st of his career.
At the 59 minute mark, Jossimar Sanchez had a good look at the net as he took a pass from Cascio at the top of the box for his first shot of the contest but sent the ball high and out of play.
Syracuse made one last attempt to score on the stellar UConn defense in the 70th minute as Justin Arena sent a cross into the box for Elliott Townsend, whose header was grabbed by Ford for his third and final save of the night.
The Huskies will battle Georgetown on Saturday, Oct. 3 to continue BIG EAST play at Morrone Stadium. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m., while it is Max Out Morrone Night as the first 100 fans to the men's soccer contest will receive a free UConn bleacher seat. UConn students will also be admitted free.
