STORRS, Conn. – After a scoreless first half, No. 16 Connecticut put away two goals in the second half to defeat Omaha on Sunday night in Storrs, Conn.
The Mavericks are now 1-1 on the season, while the Huskies improve to 2-0.
Early in the first half, Emmanuel Hamzat had the first scoring chance for Omaha, but his shot was blocked.
In the 15th minute, the Huskies were awarded a penalty kick following a foul. Abdou Thiam ripped the shot but Maverick goalkeeper Joseph Ghitis smothered it.
Ghitis kept the game scoreless in the 44th minute as he stopped an Alex Sanchez long-range blast.
After 66 minutes without a score, Omaha was called for a handball in the penalty area resulting in Connecticut's second penalty kick of the game. Thiam stepped up for another try against Ghitis. This time, his shot glanced off the crossbar and into the goal for a 1-0 UConn lead.
Hamzat had his second good look of the game in the 83rd minute, but again his shot was blocked by a Connecticut defender.
The Huskies were able to add an insurance goal in the 85th minute by Niko Etridis. Kwame Awuah lofted a ball over the Maverick defense to a sprinting Etridis who beat Ghitis for an open goal.
Ghitis made four saves for the Mavericks.
The Omaha men's soccer team is back to action at Caniglia Field on Friday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. against Drake.
MAVERICK NOTES
Omaha played its first of three straight NCAA tournament teams…The Mavericks were shut-out for the first time since Oct. 31, 2015…
Emmanuel Hamzat made his first career start on Sunday.
