Storrs, Connecticut---The two-time defending Northeast Conference champion St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers earned a hard-fought, 0-0 draw, on Friday evening against the UConn Huskies.  It was the season-opener for both teams.

The Terriers and Huskies played a scoreless first 90 minutes despite both squads generating multiple scoring chances.  UConn narrowly outshot St. Francis Brooklyn 7-5 in regulation.  Senior keeper Jack Binks made two saves to record his first shutout of the campaign.

"We played well defensively and kept our shape all night, Terriers' head coach Tom Giovatto said. "I think we frustrated them. This was a very good UConn team we played against tonight so it's nice to see that all of the hard work payed off a little bit and we got a good result." 

Binks was also pleased with the result. "We have been working all week on our game plan. Coach {Giovatto} had us play a very specific way tonight and we followed it well. Getting a shutout in the first game is always good. I couldn't have done it with out my defenders and everyone on the field." 

UConn, a perennial top-25 team, generated their first shot off the foot Abdou Thiam, whose opportunity from the top of the box was saved by Binks in the 7^th minute.

St. Francis Brooklyn produced their first chance in the 18^th minute whe  junior Yussuf Oladije's shot from the top-right of the box was stopped by Huskies' keeper Scott Levene.

Kwame Awuah generated another chance for UConn  in the 35^th minute as he fired high from 25-yards out.

The Huskies recorded six corner kicks in the first half but all were defended nicely by the Terriers. UConn's best chance off a corner came in the 44^th minute as Thiam's attempt led to a shot by Alex Sanchez but it sailed wide of the net.

The Terriers had a good opportunity in the second-half as senior John Makaya's shot from 25-yards out was stopped by Levene in the 49^th minute

Thiam created a chance for the Huskies  in the 53^rd minute as his header hit the side of the net.

UConn had another opportunity in the 58^th minute when Jakob Nerwinski hit a free kick into the box which was eventually tipped by Istvan Kanyo off a Terrier defender out of danger.

The Terriers then followed with a chance off the foot of senior Vincent Bezecourt, who sent a free kick on net that was stopped by Levene in the 61^st minute.

The Huskies came back in the 64^th minute. Thiam sent a free kick which was touched by Nicholas Zungia over the net.

St. Francis Brooklyn responded in the 65^th minute when freshman Leonard Kirschner made a move around a defender to get into the box but he fired wide of the goal.

UConn created a chance in the 71^st minute as Zungia ripped a shot from 25-yards out which was turned aside by Binks.

The Terriers almost broke the tie in the 77^th minute when Bezecourt's free kick was touched by junior Leo Folla wide of the goal.

Neither team created a quality scoring opportunity in the two overtime periods.

The Terriers will play their home opener next Friday evening against UMass-Lowell at Brooklyn Bridge Park.  Kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m.

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