Connecticut Huskies men's soccer
Encyclopedia
The Connecticut Huskies
men's soccer team is an intercollegiate varsity sports
team of the University of Connecticut
. The team is a member of the Big East Conference
of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
.
was hired as head coach, and made significant changes that would make the Huskies a premiere program. He started by building Connecticut Soccer Stadium
, which now bears his name as Joseph J. Morrone Stadium. Eventually, in Morrone's words, the team became "the Notre Dame
of college soccer". Morrone would ultimately coach the team until he retired in 1994.
In 1981, the Huskies won their first NCAA-sanctioned College Cup, defeating Alabama A&M 2-1 in overtime at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California. The Huskies also won a title in 1948, although that was before the NCAA. The Huskies, under coach Ray Reid, would win their second title in 2000, beating Creighton 2-0 in Charlotte
.
However, in recent years, the Huskies have struggled in the NCAA Tournament, losing their openers on penalty kicks in both 2009 and 2010.
as the sixth best college soccer rivalry in America. The Huskies and Red Storm have consistently been among the best teams in the Big East, and games between the two are always fiercely competitive.
Connecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...
men's soccer team is an intercollegiate varsity sports
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
team of the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
. The team is a member of the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
.
History
Connecticut soccer existed prior to 1969, but was not considered a major sport and did not even have a real stadium. However, in 1969, Joe MorroneJoe Morrone
Joe Morrone is a former head men's collegiate soccer coach. He is the father of former American soccer midfielder Joe Morrone, Jr.. He is best known to have coached soccer at UCONN from 1969 to 1996. He is credited with transforming a struggling UCONN soccer program into one of the nation's best....
was hired as head coach, and made significant changes that would make the Huskies a premiere program. He started by building Connecticut Soccer Stadium
Morrone Stadium
Morrone Stadium, officially known as Joseph J. Morrone Stadium is the on-campus soccer stadium at University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut.The 4,500-seat stadium was built in 1969. and has undergone many renovations...
, which now bears his name as Joseph J. Morrone Stadium. Eventually, in Morrone's words, the team became "the Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
of college soccer". Morrone would ultimately coach the team until he retired in 1994.
In 1981, the Huskies won their first NCAA-sanctioned College Cup, defeating Alabama A&M 2-1 in overtime at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California. The Huskies also won a title in 1948, although that was before the NCAA. The Huskies, under coach Ray Reid, would win their second title in 2000, beating Creighton 2-0 in Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
.
However, in recent years, the Huskies have struggled in the NCAA Tournament, losing their openers on penalty kicks in both 2009 and 2010.
The Present Day
UConn's student section is known as the Goal Patrol, and as of 2007, it is the largest in America with 540 members. The Goal Patrol is known for being very rowdy, and has made Morrone Stadium one of the toughest places to play. In 2011, College Soccer News ranked the rivalry between UConn and St. John'sSt. John's Red Storm
The St. John's Red Storm is the nickname used for the 16 varsity athletic programs of St. John's University. St. John's 16 NCAA Division I teams compete in the Big East Conference, with the exception of the fencing and lacrosse teams, which compete in the ECAC...
as the sixth best college soccer rivalry in America. The Huskies and Red Storm have consistently been among the best teams in the Big East, and games between the two are always fiercely competitive.