UConn Soccer Loses in PKs to USF in AAC Semi-Finals

Once again penalty kicks gets the best of UConn soccer. After last year it seemed as if the curse had been broken after the incredible win against top ranked UCLA, but tonight was the familiar nightmare that Husky fans have grown accustomed to.

After regulation and overtime were played to a scoreless draw, USF won in penalty kicks tonight, 2-0.

Cyle Larin was first up during the penalties and had his shot saved. Gerald Hernandez went first for USF and put one into the left corner as UConn goalie Scott Levene guessed right side. Ethan Vanacore-Decker was next up and missed over the crossbar. After a nice save by Levene to give UConn a chance, Dylan Greenberg had his shot saved. USF's Edwin Moaloasi scored next to put the Bulls ahead 2-0, and then Jakob Nerwinski shot wide left to end UConn's conference title hopes.

It was a demoralizing loss after this team appeared to have turned the corner in the second half of the season. The turning point of the match appeared to be when USF's Matthew O'Neal received his second yellow card of the match and was sent off midway through the second half. UConn pummeled the USF half of the field for the remainder of the regulation and overtime, but the Bulls defense was able to hang tough and force PKs.

UConn was 52^nd in the RPI heading into tonight, so there is good chance that this was this team's last game. Once again, penalties may have ended the Huskies season.