University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
SMU
Women's Soccer Wins 2016 American Athletic Conference Championship
11/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut women's soccer team claimed the 2016 American Athletic Conference Championship trophy Sunday after defeating SMU 1-0 in the finals at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium.
Senior Rachel Hill (Rollinsford, N.H.) was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player after she scored the game-winning goal in the 40th minute. Fellow senior Toriana Patterson (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) was deemed Most Outstanding Defensive Player, seeing all 180 minutes of postseason play and helping UConn to back-to-back shutouts.
This is UConn's second American Athletic Conference Championship in three years, after they claimed the title in 2014. The Huskies have 12 conference championships in program history. Sunday's matched marked the first time in AAC Women's Soccer Championship history that the championship game was decided in regulation time.
In a relatively low action game, UConn held just a 3-1 edge on shots after 30 minutes had elapsed. Hill notched the game-winning goal, her second goal of the postseason tournament, in the 40th minute off a long ball from sophomore Kim Urbanek (Lonnerstadt, Germany).
The UConn defense held off eight SMU shots in the second half as the Mustangs searched for the equalizer. Senior goalkeeper Emily Armstrong (Collegeville, Pa.) had another three-save performance to earn her second consecutive postseason shutout, her 11th overall shutout of the season.
Armstrong, Hill and Patterson were named the 2016 American Athletic Conference All-Tournament team along with senior Stephanie Ribeiro (Pawtucket, R.I.) and junior Tanya Altrui (Branford, Conn.).
UP NEXT...
The Huskies punch their ticket to their 31st NCAA tournament appearance, earning an automatic bid Sunday. Tune in to the NCAA women's soccer selection show on Monday, Nov. 7 at 4:30 p.m. to find out where UConn falls in the 2016 NCAA bracket.
All-Tournament Team
Sydney Kingston, D, Memphis
Grace Adams, D, USF
Catie Brown, GK, SMU
Claire Oates, MF, SMU
Allie Thornton, F, SMU
Vanessa Valadez, F, SMU
Tanya Altrui, MF, UConn
Emily Armstrong, GK, UConn
Rachel Hill, MF, UConn
Toriana Patterson, D, UConn
Stephanie Ribeiro, F, UConn
Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Rachel Hill, MF, UConn
Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Toriana Patterson, D, UConn
