Stifling UMass Defense Lifts Minutemen to 3-1 Victory Over #24 UConn

Team	1	2	Final F
UConn	0	1	1
Massachusetts	3	0	3

UConn

Massachusetts

AMHERST, Mass. — The Minutemen (1-0-1) upset No. 24 UConn (0-2-0) in their first taste of home action on Rudd Field, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon. It marks the first time Umass has defeated UConn since the 1992 season.

Despite leading in shots (14), shots on goal (6) and corners (10), a strong defensive unit for Minutemen fended off the Huskies.

Ludlow, Mass. native Thomas Wadas showed out in his home state, netting two goals in the first 11 minutes of game action, including his first score coming just 45 seconds into the match. Dylan Marco, a York College transfer, netted his first collegiate goal at the Division I level in the 24th minute.

David Street and Henry Hutchinson each added an assist for the second consecutive contest, both of which were to Wadas.

Junior goalkeeper Dean Linden followed up his strong season opener performance against Bryant with a five save performance and allowing just one goal.

Breaking Down the Action

Just 45 seconds into the contest, Street found a cutting Wadas on the left side of the field, where Wadas fired a left footed strike past the goalkeeper to take an early 1-0 advantage.
In the eighth Minute, UConn threaten to knot the game at one with their second corner of the contest, but a well defended ball by Marco kept the Huskies at bay.
Following a scrum in the net, Hutchinson cleared to the top left of the box, where a waiting Wadas flicked in his second goal of the contest to take a 2-0 lead just 11:35 into the game.
Massachusetts fended off consecutive corner kicks in the 17th and 18th minute, including a blocked shot Rian Mulherin.
Marco added the third Minuteman goal in the 24th minute, as a perfectly deflected ball left a one-on-one with Husky goalkeeper Kyle Durham, allowing for an easy strike to grow the lead to 3-0.
Despite three consecutive corner kicks in the 36th and 37th minute, a stifling UMass defense held Connecticut without a shot.
With 47 seconds remaining in the first half, Linden recorded his second save with a shot that ricocheted off his chest.
Both teams traded shots for the first 25 minutes of the second half, with each team only getting one shot on goal, of which both were saved.
Linden fended off consecutive Husky shots in the 71st and 73rd minute with two big saves.
UConn finally struck in the 74th minute, as Elijah Langford snuck a left footed hook shot past the outstretched leg of Linden. After a VAR review, the play stood.
The Minutemen defense held off UConn from recording another shot until the final buzzer.

Up Next
Massachusetts returns to action with a road contest against Harvard University on Friday, Aug. 28, in Cambridge, Mass. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. with action streaming on ESPN+

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