University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Bryant University
Huskies open 2019 season in Miami
2/5/2019 3:25:00 PM | Softball
STORRS, Conn.—UConn softball will commence the 2019 season this weekend in the Florida International Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 8th. The tournament will run the length of the weekend as the Huskies are set to play five games over the course of three days. UConn's opponents will be Bryant University, Michigan State, and host FIU.
The Huskies will play a pair of games on both Friday and Saturday with a single game against home team FIU on Sunday to compete the tournament. UConn is led by fifth-year head coach Jen McIntyre. McIntyre added new additions to her coaching staff during the offseason in Laura Messina, who joins fifth-year assistant Chrissy Schoonmaker, and fellow first-year volunteer assistant Alyssa VanDerveer.
Complete weekend schedule is below:
FRIDAY
UConn vs. Bryant, 12:15 p.m. (Live Stats)
UConn vs. Michigan State, 4:45 p.m. (Live Stats)
SATURDAY
UConn vs. Bryant, 10:00 a.m. (Live Stats)
UConn at FIU, 7:15 p.m. (Live Stats)
SUNDAY
UConn at FIU, 1:30 p.m. (Live Stats) (Live Stream, $)
Six freshmen joined McIntyre's squad for the 2019 campaign, in addition to seven sophomores the 22-person roster is a little young with 13 underclassman on docket. However, the coaching staff has no doubt that the youngsters are ready to make an impact early on as long as they build on their performances from the fall.
While there may only be nine upperclassmen on the roster, the Huskies are returning some really experienced student-athletes. Briana Marcelino and Carli Culter are names that have donned the conference's All-Rookie teams. On the mound, Jill Stockley is ready to lead UConn's pitching staff in this new season.
Last season the Huskies 20-35 overall and 5-16 in the American Athletic Conference. The team is ready now more than ever to start the season with this deep pitching core, versatile and fast lineup. This tournament is one of five that UConn will play in to start the 2019 campaign.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Bryant is selected to finish fifth in the Northeast this year with Sacred Heart as the unanimous decision to win. They held a 14-31 overall record and 7-9 in conference play. The Bulldogs are under the direction of first year head coach Nick French and return their only All-NEC selection in sophomore Gianna Ceccarelli.
Michigan State finished the 2018 season at No.8 in the Big Ten with a conference record of 10-11, going 24-28 overall. Head coach Jacquie Joseph has been the spearheaded the Spartans for over 20 years and is the winningest coach in the program's history.
The FIU Panthers nabbed a spot on the preseason All-Conference team in Jackie Schoff at the outfield position, after obtaining back-to-back C-USA First Team postseason honors. FIU was selected to finish fifth under interim head coach Heather Gelbard.
