SU Lets up Five Goals in 20 minutes as UConn Cruises to 6-0 Win

By: Collin Davies | @DaviesCollin
CitrusTV Women’s Soccer Beat Reporter

Syracuse, N.Y.- Women’s Soccer was shutout by UConn 6-0. The Orange’s hope of winning the game took a downhill spiral quickly.

To start the contest, both sides were playing each other evenly until the 20th minute. The pivotal moment happened right after Syracuse’s starting goalkeeper, Michaela Walsh left the game with an injury. Sierra Giorgio came in to replace her. Soon after, a Husky midfielder, Jessica Mazo, broke the ice with a far post chip inside the box.

UConn used that spark to incite a blazing inferno. Emma Zaccagnini, Jada Konte, Chioma Okafor, and Abbey Jones would all score for the Huskies before the end of the half. Syracuse would be down 5-0 at the break.

The most concerning statistic was that only one of the goals was assisted. The other four came from SU’s mistakes or UConn players making their ways past the defenders individually.

The first half called for changes to be made all over the pitch, including in net, where the third goalie of the game, Shea Vanderbosch, would come in. While UConn was still the better team in the second half, it was a stark difference from the first.

Maddie Carroll’s breakaway goal in the 70th minute would be the only goal for Connecticut in the second part of play. Also, nine of Syracuse’s 13 shots came in the second half and goalkeeping was cleaned up as well, with seven saves compared to the three saves on five goals in the first. Overall, there were positives that could be drawn from the second.

This was UConn’s largest shutout since 2006 and Head Coach Nicky Adam’s philosophy this year has been to play offense through defense, but the result today may trigger some change. SU’s future includes hosting Lafayette on Thursday. The Leopards are 0-2, coming off losses against Quinnipiac and Hartford. The Orange will hope to have Michaela Walsh back and available for that match.