Men’s Soccer Opens Season With Win Over St. Francis
Freshman Cyle Larin scored his first collegiate goal in the 25th minute which proved to be the game-winner, as the University of Connecticut men’s soccer team downed the St. Francis (N.Y.) Terriers 1-0 Friday night in the season-opener at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium.
Larin netted the game’s lone goal when fellow freshman Kwame Awuah sent a deep cross curling to the right side of the box from 30 yards out. Larin beat a defender and headed the ball to the bottom left of the net to give the Huskies an early 1-0 lead.
UConn dominated the first half of play, outshooting the Terriers 9-0. Larin and forward Mamadou Diouf teamed up early for two great chances for the Huskies. In the ninth minute, Larin passed the ball to Diouf in the top left of the box. Diouf sidestepped a defender and tripped as he sent a shot just wide right of the net. Nearly four minutes later, Larin delivered a perfect through ball to Diouf who had his shot saved by a sprawling St. Francis goalkeeper Jack Binks. Diouf finished with a match-high five shots, putting two on goal.
St. Francis had a great opportunity early in the second half, in the 50th minute. Kevin Correa took the ball in the top left of the box and raced towards Andre Blake. Correa fired towards the bottom left of the goal but Blake was able to get a fingertip on the ball, sending it away to safety.
In the 88th minute, Correa received a cross and tapped a ball slowly that rolled wide right of the net.
Blake played all 90 minutes, making one save and earning his first victory of the 2013 season. Binks finished with five saves, allowing Larin’s goal and dropping to 0-1-0.
“I think we played well in the first half,” said Reid. “Obviously you can see we got tired out there in the second half. We have work to do.”
With the win, Connecticut improves to 7-0-0 all-time against St. Francis.
The Huskies have opened each of the last four seasons with victories against the Terriers. The Huskies return to action this Monday, September 2nd when they take on William & Mary at 7 p.m. at Morrone Stadium.
Reprinted with permission from UConnHuskies.com
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