The Huskies come in with high expectations, a strong schedule and a few potential stars.
UConn’s 2024-25 athletic year will begin on Saturday when the women’s soccer team opens its season against Vermont at Morrone Stadium. The Huskies are in their seventh year under Margaret Rodriguez and have made consistent progressed in that time, but are still looking for a genuine breakout campaign.
Last season
UConn went 10-4-5 and finished 49th in RPI last season. The Huskies fell to eventual champions Georgetown in the Big East Tournament semifinals and were NCAA Tournament snubs — Providence, Arizona State, Michigan, LSU and Colorado all got in despite being being similar to or worse than UConn in the RPI rankings.
The Huskies didn’t exactly help themselves, either. They lost all three games against teams that made the field of 64 and didn’t beat anyone that finished above them in RPI.
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A stout defense
Since the COVID-impacted 2021 spring season, UConn has been one of the best defensive teams in the nation. In 67 games, the Huskies have allowed just 58 goals while pitching a shutout in 31 of those contests. Twice — 2023 and spring 2021 — UConn had more shutouts than total goals allowed.
The Huskies will once again be anchored by their defense. Reigning Big East Goalkeeper of the Year Kaitlyn Mahoney is back for a fifth year, as is Big East all-second team centerback Lucy Cappadona. Two other members of the back line who saw significant minutes — Laci Lewis and Kelly Monaco — return as well.
Offensive questions
Once again, UConn’s ceiling will be determined by its offense. Last season, the Huskies scored just 31 goals in 19 games — a modest 1.63 goals per game which was tied for 97th in the nation.
The problem wasn’t about generating chances, though. UConn ranked 34th nationally with 16.42 shots per game in 2023, but got just 7.42 of those on target. The Huskies did everything right in the build-up, but struggled when they get in front of goal. For them to take another step forward, they have to be more clinical with their opportunities.
NCAA Tournament hopes
Last season, UConn finished on the wrong side of the bubble, so the priority should be getting itself back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016. Prior to that last trip, the Huskies had only ever missed out on four occasions. It’s now been six years that they’ve failed to make the field.
UConn is on the cusp of returning to that national stage. To get there, it’ll have to maintain its suffocating defense while improving its goal scoring and snagging a few resume-boosting wins along the way.
Names to know
Chioma Okafor
A NSCAA Third Team All-American in 2023 — UConn’s first All-American since 2016 — Okafor is primed for stardom. As a sophomore, she led the team with six goals and would’ve had more had she not dealt with an injury for much of the campaign. One of the most athletic players ever to come through the program, Okafor is also regarded as extremely coachable, which has helped her make consistent progress throughout her time in Storrs.
As the starting No. 9, she’ll try to become the Huskies’ first double-digit scorer since Rachel Hill and Steph Ribeiro.
Kaitlyn Mahoney
A three-year starter, Mahoney been a steady force between the posts for UConn’s defense. Her numbers have improved each season — a 1.28 goals-against average and .806 save percentage in 2022, 0.80 GAA and .825 save percentage in 2023, and a 0.53 GAA and .859 save percentage in 2024.
Lucy Cappadona
Since arriving in Storrs in 2020, Cappadona has started all 57 games in her UConn career. After initially playing in the midfield, she slid back to center back as a sophomore and has been a steady presence for the Huskies ever since.
Abbey Jones
A senior forward out of England, Jones led the team with four assists last season and also chipped in four goals — second-most among returners. She’ll play out wide and should benefit from all the attention and resources that defenses will throw at Okafor in the middle.
Lydia LeBlanc and Anaya Taylor
A pair of sophomore midfielders, LeBlanc and Taylor are both breakout candidates for the 2024 season. Taylor played 992 minutes as a box-to-box mid, recording three goals and an assist. Meanwhile, LeBlanc got 502 minutes while adjusting a more advanced midfield role than she played in high school.
The graduation of Jessica Mazo created a big void in UConn’s midfield, and the two sophomores will be among those tasked with filling it.
Biggest games
Wisconsin (Aug. 22)
In its second regular season game, UConn will host Wisconsin at Morrone Stadium. The alma mater of USWNT star Rose Lavelle, the Badgers finished 23rd in RPI and are coming off a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It’s the perfect early-season test for the Huskies.
Texas A&M (Sept. 15)
UConn will wrap up its non-conference schedule with another power conference opponent: Texas A&M. The Aggies also reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament before bowing out to eventual national champions Florida State. For the Huskies to get themselves off the bubble and into the field of 64, they could really use a signature win (or two). Texas A&M will be their last opportunity to get one before Big East play begins.
at Xavier (Sept. 26)
The most important week in UConn’s season begins with a trip to Xavier, which has established itself as the league’s top team not named Georgetown. The Huskies were picked above the Musketeers in the Big East Preseason Coaches’ Poll, but the trip to Cincinnati projects to be their toughest road test of the season.
Georgetown (Sept. 29)
Georgetown has been the class of the new Big East and is the program to which UConn measures itself against. The series has been competitive since the Huskies joined the league with each game decided by a single goal, though the Hoyas have come out on top in four of the five matchups. If UConn wants to win a Big East title this season, it’ll have to go through Georgetown to get there.