BOYDS, MD. - Sophomore Alayna Taylor's game-winning goal in the second overtime of Sunday's BIG EAST Final lifted the UConn women's soccer team (13-4-4) past Xavier, 2-1, to win the program's first BIG EAST Tournament title since 2004.
The Glastonbury, Conn. native's goal at the 108.39 mark was her first goal of the season and clinched the Huskies 11th overall BIG EAST Championship.
UConn trailed 1-0 heading into the halftime break but goalkeeper Kaitlyn Mahoney and the UConn defense was able to keep it at just a one-goal deficit. Mahoney made a season-high seven saves.
Senior Laci Lewis leveled the score at one in the 51st minute on a cross from freshman Naia Ocio. Lewis was able to slip it past the keeper for her second career goal.
Both teams traded chances at the end of the second half and the overtime periods. But is was the Huskies that prevailed in the 109th minute. Chioma Okafor slid a pass to Taylor and the UConn forward fired a strike into the upper 90 to win the title for the Hsukies.
Taylor along with Lewis, Sophie McCarthy and Maddie Fried earned All-BIG EAST Tournament honors. While Chioma Okafor took home Offensive Player of the Tournament and Lucy Cappadona earned Defensive Player of the Tournament.
UConn will now await their selection in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship on Monday, November 11th at 4 p.m. on NCAA.com. The NCAA Tournament appearance will be the program's 32nd overall and first since 2016.
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