STORRS, Conn. - The UConn women's soccer team (6-1-1) put on a clinic in front of a new Morrone Stadium record crowd of 2403 by defeating Texas A&M, 6-0, on a Sunday afternoon.
The Huskies scored six goals, the most since 2022 (at Syracuse), with three tallies in the first and three additional in the second half to move its win streak to six matches.
After the UConn defense thwarted a pair of set piece opportunities for the Aggies in the sixth minute, the match turned into a dominant performance for the Huskies.
The Huskies converted a set piece chance of their own in the 17th minute with Joyce Ryder serving a corner kick into the box. Graduate student Lucy Cappadona headed it towards the goal line and senior Maddie Fried knocked it home to put the Huskies on the board.
The score remained the same until the Sophie McCarthy hammered home her first goal of the season off a free kick. Anna Carson served in the free kick with freshmen Taylor Jenkins having her header chanced saved by the keeper but then McCarthy was there to put home the rebound. Initially the play was ruled offside but the officials reviewed the play and overturned tha call.
The Huskies would run with that momentum and quickly followed with a third goal 41 seconds later. Junior Chioma Okafor maneuvered past a defender and played a perfect cross to sophomore Brooke Walonis. Walonis powered home the cross for her first goal of the season to extend the lead to 3-0.
Any thought of the halftime break slowing down the Huskies was answered 2:15 into the second half with Joyce Ryder driving home a strike from way outside the box into the upper left corner of goal to push the lead to four.
Sophomore Anaya Johnson made her return after missing seven games while playing for the U20 Canadian National team in the World Cup. The Brampton, Ontario native assisted on Ryder's goal and scored her first goal of the year in the 52nd minute to make it 5-0.
McCarthy capped the scoring, with her first career brace at UConn, on a beautiful service from junior Abbey Merchant on a corner kick.
Kaitlyn Mahoney made five saves in the combined shutout effort with MaryKate Ward making her 2024 debut. Ward made one save in her 20:47 in net.
UConn played a season-high 25 players in the triumph with every player logging at least 12 minutes on the pitch.
The victory closes out the non-conference portion of the season with the Huskies at 6-1-1. It is the best start for the Huskies since being 7-1 in 2015.
Next up, UConn opens BIG EAST Conference play on the road at St. John's on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m.
Game Notes
- The win against an SEC opponent is the first for the Huskies since beating Ole Miss in 2016. It is the first home win vs. an SEC opponent since beating Arkansas in 2015.
- Most goals scored at home since 2006 (DePaul (6-0), 10/15/2006).
- The Huskies have had a player record a brace in three-straight games. (Chioma Okafor (x2), Sophie McCarthy).
- Texas A&M had allowed four goals in its first seven matches.
- UConn has outscored its opponents, 16-2, during its six match win streak.
- In her first 59 career matches, Sophie McCarthy scored two career goals. In 42 minutes on Sunday, McCarthy recorded her first career multi-goal match.
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