Women’s soccer splits two Big East games

Two Big East Conference games this weekend produced mixed results for the women’s soccer team. After shutting out Providence 2-0 at home Friday, Connecticut returned the favor Sunday with a 3-0 victory.

Against Providence, the Bulls (5-3-1, 2-1) scored two second-half goals to earn their second conference win of the season. Forward Lindsay Brauer notched her 18th point of the season by sending a cross to Ebony Robinson for the game-winning goal.

Coach Logan Fleck is pleased with Robinson’s progression during her sophomore season.

“She’s been playing very well so far,” Fleck said. “That goal was one we really needed at that point in time, and she stepped up and did what she was supposed to and put the ball in the net.”

Defender Jeannette Dyer scored her first goal of the season off a free kick to put the game out of reach.

“We set that play up, and we caught the goalkeeper napping,” Fleck said.

Goalkeeper Casey Garrett held an opponent scoreless for the fourth time this season and is now tied for second in the Big East in shutouts.

During the Bulls’ first conference road game of the season against Connecticut, the Bulls surrendered three first-half goals. Junior Megan Schnur led the Huskies with two goals and an assist. The five points mark a career high for the midfielder.

“(The Huskies) just hit the ball over the defense and hoped to get people in the box,” Garrett said. “They created scoring opportunities by doing that.”

Fleck knows his team has to make adjustments.

“We have to make teams work harder for the goals they got,” Fleck said. “We need to learn how to defend against the long ball because that is something we’re going to see again.”

Coming into the game, Connecticut (5-5-1, 2-1) was ranked No. 15. The Bulls are now 1-1 this season against ranked opponents. Even though the team struggled Sunday, Fleck is still confident about his team’s ability.

“Every time I step on to the field I expect to win,” Fleck said. “There is not any opponent that I would say ‘I hope we tie.’ We’re trying to get three points in every game we play.”

Fleck stressed the most important thing his team can take away from this weekend is to never read too much into a single game.

“The best thing is to never get too down when we play poorly or too high after winning,” Fleck said. “We’ve won two out of three in the Big East and know that isn’t going to cut it. We have to get more wins.”