WSOC Opens Season With 2-2 Draw vs. Vermont – University of Connecticut Athletics

STORRS, Conn. – The UConn women’s soccer team (0-0-1) opened the 2024 regular season with a 2-2 draw against Vermont in front of 910 fans at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium on Saturday night. 

The Huskies out shot the Catamounts 23-9 on the night but needed to rally after Vermont scored a pair of second half tallies in the 67th and 73rd minute to take a 2-1 advantage. 

UConn fought back with a volleyed strike from senior Abbey Jones (Nottingham, England) in the 81st minute  

The Huskies continued to apply pressure for the remaining nine minutes but were unable to reclaim the lead. One of the Huskies best chances late came on a nice run by senior Maddie Fried.

The Monroe, CT. native made her UConn debut on Saturday and was able to chase down a pass and make a nice cut inside the box but was taken down by a defender in the box. 

Junior forward Chioma Okafor opened the scoring for UConn with the first goal of the season in the 42nd minute. Senior Joyce Ryder played a perfect long ball ahead to newcomer Lina Dantes. Dantes slid a pass inside the box to a streaking Okafor and the Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree put home the goal. 

UConn had plenty of chances offensively with Okafor leading the way with seven shots and five of those on goal. Jones finished with six shots while Fried and freshman Taylor Jenkins each added a pair.

Sophomore Brooke Walonis had a great scoring chance in the opening 45 with a strike in the 39th minute that rang off the crossbar. 

Five Huskies made their UConn debuts on Saturday night (Anna Carson, Maddie Fried, Lina Dantes, Taylor Jenkins and Naia Ocio).

Next up, the Huskies face off against Wisconsin on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 5 p.m. at Morrone Stadium.