STORRS, Conn. – Like so many times before on Sunday night, when the UConn men’s soccer team needed a goal, it turned to senior forward Abdou Mbacke Thiam – cashing in on a 70^th-minute penalty kick to give the Huskies a 1-0 victory over Niagara at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium.

In front of a sellout crowd of 4,840, including a rowdy Goal Patrol student section, UConn completed the sweep of opening weekend by showing patience against a defensive-minded Niagara team and capitalizing on its moment. The Huskies improve to 2-0 for the fifth time in the last nine seasons.

“It’s a little hard to play two games in three nights, but you have to do it in college soccer,” said head coach Ray Reid. “I thought we were a little off and fatigued, but I give our guys credit. They showed great patience and resilience in the second half, while playing an opponent that was content with a draw.”

The Huskies attacked early and often, dominating the flow of the game and time of possession. By the final whistle, UConn recorded a 15-2 shots advantage and 11-2 edge in corner kicks over the Purple Eagles.

Despite numerous opportunities throughout the contest, it wasn’t until redshirt junior Dayonn Harris was taken down in the box in the 70^th minute that the Huskies found their opening with a penalty kick attempt.

Thiam, UConn’s leading scorer for the past three seasons, buried the penalty – the eventual game-winner – for his first tally of the season. With the score comes confidence for the Huskies heading into a daunting test next weekend in Bloomington, Ind.

“I think we’re playing pretty well, but it’s early. The guys are focused,” said Reid. “We have good depth – Nkosi Burgess, Cole Venner, Ibrahima Diop – and both goalkeepers did a good job. Next weekend though we go up a weight class and they need to bring their ‘A’ game against Notre Dame. We’ll have a week of preparation and fly Thursday to Indiana.”

It was just a minute before the goal that UConn had multiple scoring chances on consecutive corners – with one being headed just wide of the net by Thiam. It was part of the Huskies’ 6-2 shots edge in the final 45 minutes.

In the first half, UConn’s best attack came in the 43^rd minute, as Venner – a redshirt freshman – took a pass from freshman Felix Metzler in the box and fired a shot right at Niagara goalie Steve Casey. The deflection found Metzler’s foot, but his shot went wide – denying the Huskies a score before the half.

In the 37^th minute, senior defender Jacob Hauser-Ramsey laid out an entry pass for Thiam in the box that was hit wide. Sophomore midfielder Josh Burnett found the back of the net in the 21^st minute on a cross by Harris, but the offsides flag went up to take it off the scoreboard.

As the offense dominated possession, UConn’s defense stood tall – allowing only two shots (one on goal) and making redshirt junior Austin Aviza’s first career start for the Huskies a rather uneventful one. It was his first shutout since the 2015 season, as a member of the Syracuse Orange.

“Sometimes when you don’t score right away, you can get down on yourself,” said Hauser-Ramsey. “We did a good job of staying focused though and being patient, knowing the goals would come.”

Sophomore defender Robin Lapert played in the backfield with Hauser-Ramsey all night, as the two defenders continue to build chemistry – allowing opponents just one goal in the first 180 minutes of competition.

UConn returns to action with a monumental challenge next weekend, as it visits Bloomington, Ind., for matchups against No. 17 Notre Dame (Aug. 31) and No. 2 Indiana (Sept. 2). The next home game is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 8 against No. 23 Dartmouth.

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