THE RHODE TO PROVIDENCE

The No. 3 ranked UConn men’s soccer team plays their penultimate match of the Big East Regular season this afternoon when they take on Providence College in Providence.

UConn is riding a three game undefeated streak and has won nine of their last ten matches with a combined score of 27-5. Striker Mamadou Doudou Diouf and attacking midfielder Carlos Alvarez have propelled UConn offensively both being ranked inside the top seven in Big East goal scorers. Defensively UConn has the fifth best defense in the Big East thanks to great performances by Max Wasserman, Michael Mercado, Sergio Campbell and Flo Liu.

Providence is on the other side of the spectrum coming into the match with an overall 3-9-2 record, having just lost 3-0 to Notre Dame. Providence has just a 1-5-0 record in the Big East, with their lone win coming in extra time against the University of Pittsburg 3-2. Providences goal threat is almost entirely played on striker Wilder Arboleda shoulders. Arboleda has scored six of the Fryers 13 total goals for the season. Another offensive threat for Providence could be forward Keith Jecewiz who has chipped in with three goals so far this season.

Oddly enough UConn faced a similar situation last year when they played Seton Hall in their final match. Seton Hall had seven losses and no wins in the Big East going into the match and had only managed to score two goals. UConn was also ranked No. 3 last season and sent shockwaves around the country when they failed to put the lowly Seton Hall team to the sword.

After playing Providence in Providence this afternoon, UConn returns home for their final regular season match on Saturday at 4pm again against Providence at a sold out Joseph J. Morrone Stadium.