The Huskies are not ready to put away the soccer balls just yet. The UConn women’s soccer team won its first-round NCAA Tournament game, beating Rutgers, 2-1, Saturday at Piscataway, N.J.
Chioma Okafor and Lucy Cappadona scored in the first half UConn (14-4-4), which has now won six in a row, going back to the regular season.
The Huskies advance to the Round of 32 and will play No. 3 seed Stanford on Friday at Fayetteville, Ark.
Anaya Johnson made the pass to Okafor, who has been heavily defended in recent games. This time, Okafor maneuvered past the goalkeeper and scored her 13th goal of the season at the 30:18 mark.
Cappadona, who has three goals in four postseason games, left the Big East tournament final with a leg injury last Sunday, but recovered sufficiently to give it a go. Six minutes after Okafor’s goal, Cappadona scored on a header, converting a corner kick from Joyce Ryder to make it 2-0.
Keeper Kaitlyn Mahoney made six saves to make the lead stand. Rutgers, the No. 6 seed, scored late in the second half.
“This team has fight in them,” coach Margaret Rodriguez said, via social media. “Proud is an understatement.”
What a turnout from Husky Nation in Piscataway!
Felt like Morrone South!! #TogetherWeRise pic.twitter.com/s3fKqbyTBF
— UConn Women’s Soccer (@UConnWSOC) November 17, 2024
It was UConn’s first NCAA appearance and victory since 2016, the program’s first road win in the tournament since 2009.
UConn and Stanford played three times between 2007 and 2013, the Cardinal winning twice.
Stanford (14-4-1), national runner-up a year ago, advanced with a 5-0 win over UC-Santa Barbara on Friday.
