Three Big East outings are all that remain on the regular season docket for the No. 17 men's soccer team. The Huskies (9-2-3, 6-1-1 Big East) head to South Orange, N.J. on Saturday to take on Seton Hall (4-7-3, 1-4-3 Big East) with their conference-best eight-game unbeaten streak on the line.
UConn is 7-0-1 since its last defeat at Rutgers on Sept. 20. The team hasn't given up a goal over a stretch that was extended on Tuesday when the Huskies downed Yale 2-0. It's been a run that coach Ray Reid isn't sure he's ever been a part of before.
The defense, led by junior keeper Josh Ford, has obviously played a significant role in UConn's hot streak. Ford himself has run his Big East-leading shutout total to 11 over the eight-game span, tying for the program's career record with 38. It's the Huskies' offense, however, that's scoring goals and putting games away in a hurry.
"I think the group is much more comfortable now then they were six weeks ago," Reid said. He started out the year with inexperienced players at key spots within the offense but it appears that veterans and newcomers have gelled together to comprise an attacking front that registers nearly two goals per contest.
Balance has also been a key to the offensive surge in recent weeks, allowing the Huskies to outscore their opponents by the combined tally of 16-0 since their loss to. Eight different players have found the net for UConn over that time.
Tony Cascio and Alan Ponce lead the team with five goals apiece, but freshman forward Carlos Alvarez has blossomed into one of UConn's steadiest contributors over the past several games. In his first season in Storrs, Alvarez's nine assists lead the team; his 15 points tie him with Cascio for the lead in that category and he's enjoyed back-to-back Big East Rookie of the Week honors.
Alvarez has made a late case for some consideration the Big East is top rookie for the year at season's end, but the Los Angeles native's performance is something Reid sees only in terms of how it affects wins and losses rather than personal accolades.
"He's a good player and we've got a lot of good players," Reid said. "We don't really worry about individual stuff here."
The Pirates are back home after an unsuccessful trip to Maryland on Oct. 20. While 2009 has been mostly a struggle for them, Reid knows better than to overlook an opponent from the Big East, especially on their home pitch.
"They're a man-to-man team, they play with a sweeper back," Reid said. "They're very physical. It'll be a tough opponent for us."
The Huskies remain at the top of the Big East's Blue Division with 19 points and a two-game lead over second place Notre Dame. They'll play one more game at Morrone Stadium on Oct. 28 against Marquette before closing out the regular season with a visit to South Bend scheduled for Halloween night.
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