Busque scores third game-winning goal

UConn's win streak reached six games with weekend wins over Providence and Yale.

The Huskies defeated Providence 2-0 Friday night. They capped off the weekend by beating Yale 1-0 on Sunday afternoon, improving their record to 6-2.

On Sunday UConn dominated, out shooting the Yale Bulldogs 36-10. In the first half alone, the Huskies led in shots 21-1. However, UConn could not find the back of the net.

Yale goalkeeper Ayana Sumiyasu made six saves in the game, and the Yale defense withstood almost every charge led by the Husky offense. With 35 minutes left in the second half, it looked as if the tie was finally broken when Sophomore Melissa Busque tapped the ball in the net. A whistle cut short the celebration when offsides was called and the goal was disallowed. The game seemed destined to stay scoreless with every opportunity missed by the Huskies.

UConn finally broke through on the 32nd shot of the game, at 66:43 into the game. This goal counted, when Busque got her own rebound and scored.

"I was lucky she gave the rebound," said Busque. "I didn't think it was going to go in. I'm just relieved it did."

After UConn got the lead, they never relinquished it.

"It could have been a very easy game for us." said head coach Len Tsantiris. "We definitely had possession most of the game. Eventually we got the goal."

Erin Clark, Brittany Taylor and Busque were all tied for the team lead in shots, with six each. Yale's defense played hard and although UConn controlled the game, the Bulldogs did not make it easy for the Huskies. UConn out shot the Bulldogs by a vast margin, but with only one goal in the game, the defense did their part in the victory as well.

"Overall it's what I expected with a team like Yale," said Tsantiris. "They're going to come and sit back, and put a lot of numbers on their half and it's very tough to break down."

Goalkeeper Jessica Dulski recorded two saves in her second shutout of the weekend.

"I'm happy to get two shutouts. We are not going to get complacent," said Dulski. "We need to stay on top of our game. I have to keep working hard and keep the ball out of the net."

"When [Dulski] had to step up, she did well," said Tsantiris, about Jessica Dulski's play. "She caught a couple of those crosses and shots that they took."

Dulski's first shutout came in Friday's win at Providence. In UConn's first Big East game, Dulski recorded seven saves in the 2-0 victory. Both goals came in the first half. Jessica Diakun led off the scoring with her first goal of the season. Brittany Taylor assisted Diakun's header, but the goal came at a costly price. According to Tsantiris, during the play Diakun collided with the goalie and left the game with an injury. She did not play in Sunday's game.

Erin Clark tacked on another goal for the Huskies, her second of the year, from a cross by Georgina Giddings. UConn moved to 1-0 against Big East opponents, and will be put to the test in their second conference matchup Thursday night. The Huskies will hit the road and play the St. John's Red Storm in New York.