Annie Yi kicks the game-winning goal in Friday's victory over Yale.

Bildstein, Yi clutch in women's soccer win over Yale

By: Dennis Rizzo

Posted: 9/8/08

The UConn women's soccer team split their two matches this weekend, winning Friday's game against Yale, 2-1 in double-overtime, while dropping Sunday's match, 1-0, against Boston University.

Friday's win came in dramatic fashion. With 3.1 seconds left on the clock, UConn (2-3) was awarded a free kick just outside Yale's penalty box because of a handball.

Trailing 1-0 after an early second half goal by Becky Brown gave the Bulldogs (0-1) the lead, Cory Bildstein lined up to take the free kick for UConn. Standing between her and the net was a wall of Yale players and Yale goalkeeper Ayana Sumiyasu, who made 12 saves against an onslaught of 31 shots.

"Before the shot I was just trying not to look at the clock and focus," said Bildstein.

Bildstein's free kick bent around the wall and rocketed past Sumiyasu into the upper corner of the net, tying the game and ending UConn's frustration with one second left in regulation. Several minutes into the second overtime, Annie Yi scored the game winner on a shot that sailed into the top-right corner of the net.

In his 28 years of coaching UConn women's soccer, Tsantiris said Bildstein's was the latest he could remember a goal being scored in a game during his tenure.

"I've been in games like this, but this game was electrifying," said Tsantiris. "Everyone got into the game, both the crowd and the players."

Neither team was able to score in the first 10-minute overtime period.

In the second overtime, Bildstein had a chance to be the hero again, but her shot with 7:30 left in the period missed in the first 10-minute overtime period.

In the second overtime, Bildstein had a chance to be the hero again, but her shot with 7:30 left in the period missed the Yale goal by inches.

With 2:05 left in the game, Yi, UConn's leading goal scorer from last season, fired a shot from outside the penalty box over the Yale goalkeeper, completing the Huskies' improbable comeback and sending the UConn sideline into a frenzy.

"Frustration with shots is part of the game," Tsantiris said. "Their keeper made great saves, but this is a great result. I'm happy for them."

Injuries as well as several early shots with no results only made the victory that much sweeter for Yi.

"This game was frustrating," said Yi. "I knew with the way we were playing we would pull it off, though. We just had to be patient. Right now I'm speechless. I'm just glad we got the win."

Sunday's game against Boston University (2-3) did not end with the same jubilation as Friday's game, however.

The Terriers snatched away the Huskies' momentum early in the game as Jessica Luscinski scored at 10:20 after UConn committed a costly turnover deep in their own territory.

It was the fourth time in five games the Huskies have allowed the first goal.

UConn was able to keep the deficit to 1-0 entering halftime, though, keeping Boston University out of the net after the Terriers had three consecutive corner kicks late in the first half.

At the start of the second half, UConn's Melissa Busque and Elizabeth Eng came out firing, but were unable to convert on their chances.

UConn had several chances to tie the game in the second half, but were unable to find the same magic they had in the game against Yale.

After the game, Tsantiris was visibly disappointed with his team's performance.

"We are losing to teams that are not as good as us," Tsantiris said. "We did not play. We did not do anything up to our standards."