University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Finish Regular Season at Pitt
10/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 30, 2010
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The UConn men's soccer team will conclude the 2010 regular season with a road match at Pittsburgh on Halloween Sunday. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. at North Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Date: October 31, 2010
Time: 1:00 p.m. (EST)
Stadium: North Allegheny High School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Series Record: UConn leads 14-3-2
Last Meeting: Oct. 17, 2009; UConn, W, 2-0
FINAL REGULAR SEASON MATCH
Sunday's match marks the final regular season contest in 2010 for both programs as UConn enters the afternoon with a 10-2-4 overall record and a 4-1-3 mark in BIG EAST play. Pittsburgh is 6-8-2 on the year and 1-5-2 in league action. The Panthers are 6-1-1 at home this season, while UConn boasts a 2-2-2 record in road games. The Sunday match was originally scheduled for Saturday but pushed back one day due to scheduling changes for the Huskies earlier in the week.
THE CLIMB TO THE TOP
As of Thursday Oct. 28, UConn has 15 points in the BIG EAST Conference standings. Georgetown, the 2010 Blue Division Champion, holds the top spot with 21 points. Notre Dame follows with 16, while UConn and West Virginia are in a tie at third with 15 points a piece.
TRICK OR TREAT?
UConn's seeding in the BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship tournament all depends on the results in this final weekend of regular season competition. Many scenarios come into play as the Huskies hope to move into second place in the Blue Division to secure a first-round bye in the league's postseason tournament. Notre Dame will host Georgetown on Sunday at 6:00 p.m., while West Virginia will travel to Providence at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Results of these games as well as the UConn-Pitt match-up on Sunday will determine the Huskies' seeding in BIG EAST postseason play.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE HUSKIES
UConn has clinched a spot in the 2010 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship scheduled to begin on Nov. 3 with first round games. Seeding for the tournament will be announced on Sunday night following the 6:00 p.m. match between Georgetown and Notre Dame.
The Huskies are currently led by Tony Cascio who has a team-high 23 points on a team-best nine goals along with five assists. Cascio has registered two games this year with two or more goals and has recorded four game-winners. Carlos Alvarez has a team-high 12 assists and 20 points along with four goals. Stephane Diop has seven goals on the year and one assist for 15 points. UConn is outscoring its opponents 34-5 on the year, including a 13-2 clip against BIG EAST opponents.
Josh Ford, who earned his 50th career win on Oct. 9 and 45th career shutout on Oct. 13, has 50 saves for UConn this year. He has registered nine shutouts and has 10 wins this season as well.
LAST TIME OUT
UConn dropped a 1-0 decision to Georgetown on Thursday, Oct. 28 in Washington, D.C. The Hoyas scored in the 74th minute to secure the 2010 BIG EAST Blue Division title. The goal surrendered by the Huskies was just the fifth all season for the nationally-ranked program, while it was also just their second loss of the year. It was UConn's first loss in BIG EAST play this season as well.
SHUTTING THE DOOR ON OPPONENTS
UConn has outscored its opponents 34-5 on the year, including a 13-2 clip in BIG EAST Conference play. UConn has blanked its opponents 11 times this season, while senior goalkeeper Josh Ford has earned nine shutouts on the year.
LENDING A HELPING HAND
Carlos Alvarez leads the BIG EAST Conference with 12 assists on the year. Last season, Alvarez led the conference with 11 en route to being named the 2009 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year.
FORD IN THE RECORD BOOK
Josh Ford has developed into one of UConn's top goalkeepers as he ranks at the top amongst all-time Huskies in consecutive starts (81), shutouts (48) and shutouts in a single-season (13-2009), while he is second in wins with 52 in his career. He is just one win away from tying Matt Chavlovich (1996-99) with 53 victories. With 264 career saves, Ford ranks seventh among all-time save leaders at UConn.
SERIES INFORMATION
UConn leads the all-time series with Pitt 14-3-2 after earning a 2-0 win on Oct. 17, 2009 in the teams' last meeting. In the past 13 match-ups, UConn is 12-0-1 against the Panthers. The Huskies are 6-1-2 when playing against Pitt on the road.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
Pitt is 6-8-2 overall on the year and 1-5-2 in BIG EAST Conference play. The Panthers are coming off three straight losses, including two on the road, and need a win on Sunday as well as a Marquette loss to earn a berth into the BIG EAST postseason tournament. Sam Luffy leads the Panthers with four goals and one assist for a team-best nine points. Both Ryan Brode and Terry Akpua have one goal and a team-high three assists for five points on the year. In net for Pitt is Hami Kara, who has allowed 16 goals in 14 games, while making 41 saves. He has shutout six opponents on the year as well and boasts a 6-6-2 overall record.
THE Ray Reid FILE
Ray Reid enters his 14th year as the head coach of the UConn men's soccer program as he boasts a 198-70-32 record at UConn. In his career, Reid is 344-87-47 in his 22nd overall year as a head coach. Reid's teams at UConn have garnered seven BIG EAST Regular Season titles, four BIG EAST Tournament titles, and the 2000 NCAA National Championship.
NEXT UP FOR THE HUSKIES
UConn will find out its BIG EAST Tournament seeding on Sunday night. Log onto UConnHuskies.com for more information.
