The men's soccer team heads to West Long Branch, N.J. to play in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Monmouth. The Huskies (11-4-3, 8-2-1 Big East) won the Big East regular season championship but will have to shake off a disappointing loss in the first round of the Big East Tournament against Providence.
The No. 5 Monmouth Hawks (18-1-1) are coming off a tournament championship in Northeast Conference and a season where they didn't lose at home once. The Hawks had a terrific season allowing only seven goals in 20 contests while scoring 36 of their own. They are led by Ryan Kinne who netted 10 goals along with dishing out seven assists.
Monmouth finished with the 20th best RPI compared to the Huskies who ranked 36th.
Connecticut will need to rely on a balanced attack from their midfielders and forwards if they hope to advance in the tournament. Tony Cascio and Carlos Alvarez will need to control the ball and try to impose the ball-possession style which UConn likes to employ.
The Huskies come into the game bearing new hardware as earlier this month Kwame Watson-Siriboe was named Big East defensive player of the year, Tony Stahl was named Big East midfielder of the year and Alvarez was named Big East rookie of the year. Watson-Siriboe and Cascio were both named to the All-Big East first team.
If the Huskies advance over Monmouth they will take on Harvard, a team they defeated 4-0 earlier this season.
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