UConn Men's Soccer Scores First Goal in Win over Harvard

After three scoreless ties to open the season, the UConn men's soccer team finally notched its first two goals of the season, getting its first win over the Harvard Crimson in Cambridge, Massachusetts Thursday night.

For most of the game, it looked like it would be more of the same from the Huskies. The first half was a defensive battle, with UConn clinging to a slim 2-0 shot advantage. Though they were the dominant team, the Huskies could not manage to find the back of the net. As the clock ticked down in the first half, the Huskies mounted an attack on Harvard's net, and freshman forward Fredrik Jonsson ripped a shot from the top of the box, but it was saved by Harvard keeper Evan Mendez.

Early in the second half, the Huskies their fair share of opportunities. At the 65-minute mark, Cheikh Stephane Coly took a pass from junior captain Jake Nerwsinski and crossed it into the box, where it was headed out. Nine minutes later, the Huskies had another chance when junior Sebastian Brems slotted a ball to Jonsson, who nearly snuck the ball past Mendez. However, the keeper was able to recover and dive on the ball to end the attack.

In the final 10 minutes of the game, both team's offenses exploded. In the 82nd minute, a cross from Nerwsinki bounced around in the box before Andrew Geres put it into the back of the net to give the Huskies the 1-0 lead. Just a minute later, however, Harvard answered back with the equalizer.

The Huskies would waste no time putting pressure back on the Crimson. After the kick-off, the Huskies took the ball into the attacking third and Geres found fellow Connecticut native Tyler Leeman on the left side of the box. Leeman buried the ball in the bottom left corner of the net to give the Huskies the lead for good.

With their first win in the books, the Huskies improved to 1-0-3 on the season and extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games, going back to last season. The Crimson fall to 0-2-3 on the season.

The Huskies next game is Sunday at Morrone Stadium, where they will face No. 19 UC-Santa Barbara at 7 p.m.