No. 13 UConn Fends Off Late Second-Half Rally, Beat Boston College 3-2

Tuesday, October 16

Storrs, Conn.

7:00 P.M.

University of Connecticut

8-2-2

Boston College

4-5-3

UConn

Photo by: Stephen Slade

No. 13 UConn Fends Off Late Second-Half Rally, Beat Boston College 3-2

10/16/2018 11:08:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

MORRONE ROAD CLOSURES

Photo Gallery

STORRS, Conn. – Returning to Morrone for the first of a four-game home stand, the No. 13 UConn men's soccer team held off a late Boston College second-half rally, beating the Eagles 3-2 on Tuesday night.

After an opening 25 minutes of game action – a period that saw both teams possess the ball several times but never make any serious scoring threats – the Huskies broke the scoreless tie after catching the Boston College defense lacking.

Following a Boston College foul, UConn was awarded a free kick. While an upset Eagle defense was slightly distracted with contesting the call, the Huskies pounced on their opportunity and made the BC backline pay. On the free kick, Josh Burnett spotted an open Abdou Mbacke Thiam on the backside and lobbed the ball to him for the score at the 28:20 mark of the first half.

In the 31^st minute, Boston College threatened to tie the game on a penalty kick after an UConn defender made a sliding tackle inside the left side of the box. Austin Aviza would having none of it - Simon Enstrom tried to sneak the ball into the right-side of net, but Aviza made a diving save, deflected the try right off of his fingertips, onto the post and out. This incredible save energized the crowd and seemed to give the Huskies a spark.

"Big time performance," said UConn head coach Ray Reid. "Penalty kick changed the game, and then the saves, big time performance. He (Aviza)'s getting better and better every day…just what we need at the right time. He breathed air into our team, and we were able to get the second and third goal."

UConn pushed its lead to 2-0 just before halftime. After a direct pass from Cole Venner, Mbacke Thiam took the ball up-field and found a streaking Josh Burnett, who finished the play by placing a shot to the bottom right corner of the post.

Josh Burnett tallied the first brace of his career after netting another goal in the 50^th minute. Once again initiating the scoring play, Cole Venner delivered a ball to Blaise N'Gauge, who sent a thru pass to Burnett. After a hesitation dribble cause his defender to stumble, Burnett sent a shot to the bottom-right corner of the net, extending the UConn lead to 3-nil.

Boston College continued its fight throughout the second period, cutting the deficit to two goals in the 79^th after Kristofer Konradsson fired a shot from the top of the box that he snuck in near the right post.

The Eagles scored again less than seven minutes later. Konradsson used a dribble move to elude his defender for an open shot, placing another ball to the bottom right post and drawing BC within one, 3-2, in the 84^th minute.

Boston College looked to send the game into extra time, but Austin Aviza denied any hope of an equalizer, notching a crucial save and block in the last two minutes to preserve UConn's 3-2 victory.

Game Notes:

Austin Aviza patrolled the post with precision as he recorded a career-high eight saves.
UConn moves to 33-10-3 all-time against Boston College.
Abdou Mbacke Thiam and Josh Burnett teamed up for two goals on the night, while Cole Venner also notched a pair of assists.
Boston College outshot the Huskies, 16-6

Next Up:

UConn continues its four-game home stand with a Saturday night matchup with AAC for Temple. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.