Mbacke Thiam’s Two Second-Half Goals Lift No. 13 UConn Past Temple, 2-1

Saturday, October 20

Storrs, Conn.

7:00 P.M.

University of Connecticut

9-2-2

Temple University

4-8-3

Temple

UConn

Photo by: Stephen Slade

Mbacke Thiam’s Two Second-Half Goals Lift No. 13 UConn Past Temple, 2-1

10/20/2018 11:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

MORRONE ROAD CLOSURES

STORRS, Conn. – Continuing its four-game home stand, the No. 13 UConn men's soccer team used two second half goals to propel itself past Temple, 2-1, Saturday night at a sold out Morrone Stadium.

The first 10 minutes of game action featured a minimal display of offense as both teams launched a few non-threatening attacks. The field began to open up though, as the Huskies nearly jumped out in front in the 14^th minute. Off a free kick, Dylan Greenberg lined up a shot from just outside the box and nearly snuck the ball past Temple goalie Simon Lefebvre.

In the 31^st minute, UConn initiated another attack – it's best of the first half. Following a dribble move allowing him to elude the defender, Cole Venner got the one-on-one matchup he was looking for as he was able to draw out the Temple goalie. Venner placed a beautiful shot to the bottom right corner of the net and nearly snuck the ball in but a late deflection by Simon Lefebvre kept the Huskies off the board.

Temple took a 1-0 lead at 38:08 following an Elias Villegas goal. The Owls would take that lead into halftime, despite UConn holding a 6-2 shot advantage.

The Huskies were able to find the equalizer in the 62^nd minute. As Dayonn Harris began his attack inside the box, he was tripped up by a Temple player, resulting in a penalty kick. After taking a breath and gathering himself, Abdou Mbacke Thiam buried the PK to knot the score at 1-1.

Two more quality attacks – a Mbacke Thiam header off a corner kick (68) and a Felix Metzler attempt off a beautiful volley from Cole Venner (69) put UConn in great positon to claim the lead but the Huskies were unable to capitalize.

As both teams failed to put up a quality attempt over the next 18 minutes, it looked like the Temple and UConn were headed for overtime – Austin Aviza and Abdou Mbacke Thiam made sure that wouldn't happen.

UConn took the lead, and the game, for good in the 88^th minute. Aviza lobbed the ball out to a streaking Mbacke Thiam, who launched a high-arching shot that sailed past the outstretched hand of the 6'9 Temple goalie and nestled into the back of the net, giving the Huskies a 2-1 victory over the Owls.

Game Notes:

Abdou Mbacke Thiam two goals tonight give him 11 on the season, giving him double digit goals in each of his four seasons in a UConn uniform.
UConn's win improves its record to 8-0-1 at Morrone Stadium, and pushes its unbeaten streak to nine games.
The Huskies outshot Temple 15-6.

Next Up:

UConn wraps up non-conference play with a Tuesday night tilt against the Vermont Catamounts. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.