Down but not out: UConn men’s soccer’s postseason hopes slim, but still alive

So you’re telling me there’s a chance! The UConn men’s soccer team (7-5-2) sits ninth in the Big East at 2-4-2, with two tilts remaining. There’s a winnable home game against last place Xavier this Saturday, and then a showdown with conference goliath Georgetown — No. 1 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll — next Wednesday.

Before diving into the Huskies playoff scenario, let’s first celebrate the resounding 4-2 dispatching of Rutgers and Jim McElderry last night. The two teams traded goals in the first half, and after a little skirmish to start the second, sophomore Thomas Decottignies and Mateo Leveque poured in two of the prettier goals of the season.

Everything about that back-heel from sophomore Moussa Wade is *chefs kiss.* Sophomore Jayden Reid now has two goals and four assists, freshman Okiem Chime has three goals of his own, while Wade has four assists as well.

Picking up three points vs. the Muskies on Saturday would put UConn at 11 points in the conference and on par with DePaul, who currently sits sixth. The top six seeds make the Big East tournament, though UConn does not control its own destiny. Marquette and Creighton both sit above the Huskies with 10 points. Below are the four teams’ remaining schedules.

Marquette: at Georgetown

Creighton: at Butler, home vs. Providence

DePaul: home vs. St. John’s, home vs. Xavier

UConn owns the tiebreaker vs. Marquette thanks to its win over the Golden Eagles earlier this month while both of Creighton’s matches are tough and conceivable losses. The problem is DePaul. The Blue Demons beat UConn head-to-head and are likely beat Xavier, putting them with 14 points.

The Huskies need Xavier to suddenly become the Bayern Munich of the Big East right after the final whistle sounds in Storrs this Saturday. If the Musketeers knock off DePaul and UConn can cobble together at least four points in its final two games, the Huskies can sneak into the playoffs.

However, expecting points against Georgetown is a form of optimism that some would call delusion. But crazier things have happened. UConn took No. 18 Providence to the wire and only lost in the last five minutes. That’s important because the Friars are the only team to tame the Hoyas this year.

UConn takes on Xavier at 7 p.m. on Saturday.