Sept. 29, 2006

Recap | Box Score | Notes

Head Coach Ann Clifton

On the UConn players moving around to different positions: It was good in a way to see that happening because when you get a team on the run like that it really says something. We got a goal early on and had them searching for answers. They have a lot of players who can find those answers, too. Connecticut is a phenomenal team. They hit balls better than any team we have seen this season. I was very impressed by them.

On the game plan coming in: We started working on this game right away when we got back from Rutgers. I think we sorted out our midfield defending and the team was committed to getting that done today. We have some very special players and we are doing what we need to get by, which is a sign of an improving team.

On scoring a goal so early in the game: As a coach you start wishing for anything just to get through the next 88 minutes with the lead. We talk all the time about the best defense being your offense. We should have hunted for a second goal today and could maybe have done a better job of that, but that is part of the youth we are trying to sort out. It was nice to get on the board early and take a sense of confidence from that.

On Kelly Eagan and Laura Sylvester: They are incredibly special players. There isn't a team in the country who wouldn't want to add a player like Laura to their team. She has done a great job and we are excited to have her here for three more years. This season Laura has responded to everything we asked her to do. The tackle she made at the end was a gigantic play in the game. We are excited about all of our players on the back four.

Sophomore defender Laura Sylvester

On today's game: The defense today started out with our organization and knowing where all of their players were at all times. We stayed organized in the midfield and that really helped us.

On playing alongside Kelly Eagan: It has been great working with Kelly right from the start of the season. We both help each other if one makes a mistake and have worked really well together.

On stopping a Connecticut shot near the goal in the closing minutes: I was running with her and I just decided that I could not allow her to get a clean shot off. We had played too hard for too long to let them score that late in the game.

On what the team talked about at halftime: The coaches told us that just because we were up by a goal didn't mean that we had to sit back and defend the whole time. We wanted to try to keep going forward and pressuring them. We didn't want to just sit back and let them take it to us the whole second half.

On the team's defensive success and unbeaten record: It helps our confidence as a defensive unit to have had this type of success. We have worked hard and bonded together and achieving success helps us to improve and get better with each passing game. We can see the level that we want to continue playing at. Starting off with such a great record is awesome. We are proud of ourselves and happy with the way things have turned out so far. We just want to keep it up and keep going forward with it.