PISCATAWAY, NJ - The UConn women's soccer team (14-4-4) defeated No. 6 seeded Rutgers, 2-1, in the NCAA First Round on Saturday night at Yurcak Field.

The Huskies used a pair of first half tallies and solid defending and great goalkeeping from graduate Kaitlyn Mahoney to move on to the NCAA Second Round.

UConn has won four-straight NCAA First Round matches and won their first NCAA First Round match away from Morrone Stadium since 2009. 

UConn has tied its season-high with a six-game win streak and capture its first win in the NCAA's since their last appearance in 2016.

The Huskies broke through first at the 30:18 mark with midfielder Anaya Johnson winning a ball in the midfield and sliding a perfect through ball up ahead to a streaking Chioma Okafor.

Okafor maneuvered past the goalkeeper and buried her shot for her 13th goal of the season. 

Less than six minutes later it was the captain, Lucy Cappadona, heading home her third goal in the last four postseason matches. The BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Defensive Player was on crutches last Sunday after having to leave the BIG EAST Final with injury. The graduate student was back on the pitch for her first NCAA Tournament game and put the Huskies ahead 2-0 after a great service by senior Joyce Ryder on a UConn corner kick. 

Rutgers tallied a goal in the 70th minute to make it 2-1 but the Huskies were able to hold off the Scarlet Knights by their game management. 

The Huskies advance to the NCAA Second Round next Friday, November 22 against No. 3 seeded Stanford at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.