NEW YORK - No. 4 UConn (17-2, 6-0 BIG EAST) punched its ticket to the NCAA Division I Championship semifinals on Sunday afternoon, defeating No. 5 Princeton, 1-0, in a shootout at Nancy Stevens Field in Storrs, Conn. The Huskies won the shootout, 4-2, to advance to the NCAA Final Four for the first time since winning the national championship in 2017.
After four scoreless quarters, neither team could break through during regulation. UConn senior goalkeeper Natalie McKenna turned aside Princeton's opportunities, finishing with four saves, while the Huskies' defense limited the Tigers to seven shots and four shots on goal.
The teams remained deadlocked throughout the overtime period, setting up a shootout to determine which team would advance. Princeton entered the contest with an 0-5 record in shootouts this season, including a previous shootout loss to the Huskies earlier in the year. The Tigers opened the shootout with a successful attempt from Caitlin Thompson, but UConn responded with four consecutive conversions from Lene Reiche, Lucy Zich, Olivia McKenna and Charlotte Ritter. Natalie McKenna came up with two shootout stops, denying Anna Faulstich and Saylor Milone, to secure the 4-2 victory.
Natalie McKenna, who earned BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year honors, delivered a standout performance in the cage with four saves in regulation and two stops in the shootout. Princeton goalkeeper Josie Bianco recorded three saves. UConn finished with three shots on goal and earned one penalty corner, while Princeton registered seven shots and three penalty corners.
The Huskies now turn their attention to the national semifinals, which will be held Friday, Nov. 20, at Trager Stadium on the campus of the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky. UConn will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between No. 1 Northwestern and No. 8 North Carolina. The game will be televised on ESPNU; time is TBD.
The NCAA Championship game is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
For complete NCAA bracket and tournament details, visit HERE.