Nov. 8, 2002

Final Stats

STORRS, CT. - In the semifinals of the 2002 Big East Women's Soccer Championships on Friday, Nov. 8, in Storrs, Conn., the Villanova women's soccer team fell to the University Connecticut, 3-0, as the Huskies advance to the conference championship for the eighth time in 10 years. UConn will face the winner of the other semifinal, West Virginia vs. Rutgers, on Sunday, Oct. 10, at noon.

The 14th ranked Wildcats, the No. 2 seed in the Big East Mid-Atlantic Division, fall to 14-2-4 overall on the season with the loss. The No. 1 seed in the conference's Northeast Division, the 9th ranked Huskies are now 17-2-1 overall on the season.

Connecticut got the scoring started just 6:10 into the game when Megan Almanzo took a pass from Sarah Popper and blasted a shot from the top of the box over the head of Wildcat goalkeeper Chrissy Dolan to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.

At the 27:09 mark, UConn added to its lead as Kristen Graczyk found Salla Ranta with a dump pass in the left of the box. Ranta sent a shot into the right corner of the net to increase the Husky advantage to 2-0.

Connecticut would take its two-goal lead into intermission, out-shooting Villanova 14-1 in the first half. Dolan saved six shots in the half, but goals by Alanzo and Ranta proved to be the difference in the first 45 minutes of action.

The Huskies extended their lead 7:38 into the second half on a goal by forward Brittany Barakat. Barakat's first shot found the post but she got her own rebound and sent a shot past Dolan to make it a 3-0 game in favor of UConn.

Villanova had a number of good second half opportunities posting eight shots, but the `Cats were unable to find the net as Connecticut went on for a 3-0 victory.

Villanova will now await word on its NCAA Tournament destination, as the brackets will be announced on Monday, Nov. 11 at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN News.