University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
1-5
Albany
3-3
UConn Holds Off UAlbany, 10-9, to Capture First Victory
3/13/2019 6:22:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
STORRS, Conn. – Back in Storrs for the first of two-straight home games, UConn women's lacrosse captured its first win of the 2019 season as they held off a late rally to earn a 10-9 victory over UAlbany Wednesday afternoon at Sherman Family Complex. The Huskies move to 1-5 on the year, while UAlbany drops to 3-3.
Sophomore midfielder Sydney Watson led the charge for UConn with a hat trick while Caitlin Leary and Olivia Miles each tallied two goals apiece. Overall, six different UConn players found the back of the net, as Brooke Jensen, Anna Costello and Sam McKenna contributed scores of their own.
UConn and Albany swapped goals to start a competitive but low scoring first half. Watson and Leary put the Huskies up 2-nil less than five minutes into the contest, but the Great Danes answered with two of their own to even the score. The Huskies scored four of the next five goals – Jensen (1), Costello (1), McKenna (1) and Watson (1) – to take a 6-3 advantage into the break.
The Huskies opened the second half with back-to-back strikes from Olivia Miles. Shortly afterwards, Leary earned her second tally of the day on a free position shot to open up a six-goal lead for the home team. UAlbany wouldn't go away quietly, as the Great Danes went on a 3-0 run to cut the UConn lead down to two, 9-7.
UConn remained focused and undeterred as they patiently worked the ball around their zone. Sydney Watson earned a free position attempt following a UAlbany foul, and the sophomore buried the shot to complete her hat trick and put the Huskies up 10-7 in the process.
The Great Danes threatened again, finding the back of the cage twice to make it a one-goal game with 6:36 to go. UConn refused to let its first victory slip away –Goaltender Grace Beshlian recorded several huge saves and the Husky defense forced a crucial turnover in the final minute, allowing them to recover the ball, run out the clock and leave the field with a 10-9 triumph!
Next Up…
The Huskies return to Sherman Family Complex for a Saturday morning contest on March 16 as they play host to Columbia University. Opening draw is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
