Spring Break
'Marq' down another victory
3-0 win over Marquette gives Huskies Big East Blue Division title
Jake Goldberg
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: Sports
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"It's amazing because I know some people that play soccer around the nation and senior night was their last game," Watson-Siriboe said. "It's a sucky feeling knowing that it was your last game, but, hey, we get to play one more at Morrone Stadium."
Marquette had already clinched the sixth seed in the Big East Blue Division and a match-up at South Florida. They decided to sit a few players so they could be well rested for their Big East Tournament game. But UConn was still looking to grab the top spot in the Big East Tournament, so they played their regular starters.
Early on, the Golden Eagles committed a foul directly in front of the box. Pezza set the ball down and proceeded to bend a magnificent goal over the wall of defenders and past the outstretched hands of the goalie.
From this point on, the Huskies were able to handle anything Marquette tried. UConn possessed the ball for the majority of the first half and shut down the Golden Eagle offense. Marquette failed to record a shot in the entire first half and, furthermore, had difficulty finding their offensive side of the field.
Tony Cascio and Carlos Alvarez had a hand in almost all of the action of the first half. Cascio played the lead forward position and created havoc among the Marquette defenders with Alvarez feeding him passes.
With 12 minutes left to play in the half, UConn poured forth another attack. Stahl ripped a ground ball into the box and Alan Ponce found himself all alone with the goalie and smashed a ball off his right foot into the top left corner of the goal. This was clearly the turning point in the match, and it seemed like Marquette wasn't going to be able to overcome a two-goal deficit.
The game was very physical, even more than the usual Big East matchup; both the Golden Eagles and the Huskies were whistled for flags throughout the first half of play. Although several players found seats on the grass, no yellow cards were handed out much to the chagrin of the 2,140 fans on hand. Altogether, there were 13 fouls during the first half, Marquette amassing eight and Connecticut five. The second half was no better, with each team recording seven fouls each. Four yellow cards were giving out during this half of play.
With 20 minutes left to play in the half, UConn sealed the victory. Thomas Wharf was able to score a goal off his head after Pezza placed a ball into the box on a direct kick. Goalie Ben Cavopina had a chance to handle the ball, but it slipped through his hands onto the head of Wharf.
This is UConn's 12th shutout victory of the season, and for goalie Josh Ford this was a UConn record tying 38th career shutout victory. Defender Watson-Siriboe said that shutouts are what the defense and Ford go for every game.
UConn will next take on the winner of the Providence at Villanova game this Saturday at Morrone Stadium. The Huskies defeated Villanova 2-1 in Philadelphia and beat Providence 4-0.
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