STORRS, Conn. – The UConn men's soccer team opened the 2024 season with a 6-0 win over Stonehill on Thursday night. The Huskies had five different goal scorers in the match marking their largest goal output since 2019.
UConn got off to a fast start scoring their first goal of the night in the 3rd minute of the match. Sophomore midfielder Sabri Hanni netted his first career goal in his first career start for the Huskies with a beautiful finish into the far bottom corner of the goal.
UConn doubled their lead in the 20th minute off the foot of junior midfielder Charlie Holmes. The Bucknell transfer got on the end of a pass from Scott Testori putting him on the score sheet in his UConn debut.
The Huskies netted their third goal of the first half in the 30th minute off a set piece. Grad senior captain Jack Loura scored his first career goal as Hanni played a great ball into the box that was headed back across the face of goal by Testori and Loura was there to head home the Huskies third goal of the half.
UConn carried the momentum into the second half, scoring their fourth goal less than ten minutes into the start of the half. Grad transfer Michael Suski tallied his first goal in a UConn uniform in the 54th minute. The Connecticut native got on the end of a corner kick from Max Gummesson, making it 4-0.
Junior midfielder Marco Valentic recorded the Huskies final two goals of the night, awarding him his first career multi-goal game. The Bucknell transfer scored the Huskies fifth goal thanks to a great pass from Suski that put Valentic through on goal in the 57th minute. Valentic netted the brace in the 71st minute, as Ayoub Lajhar put Valentic through on goal with a great pass. This is the Huskies largest margin of victory in a season opening game since 1994 (St. Francis, 7-1).
Redshirt-freshman Max Kerkvliet made his first career start in goal for the Huskies. The Houston, Texas native earned his first career shutout making two saves.
Up Next:
UConn returns to action on Thursday, August 29 as they welcome NJIT to Storrs. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm. Tickets are available HERE.
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