BOYDS, Md. –  The BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Championship Presented by JEEP opened Thursday night with No. 3 seed UConn securing a 2-1 victory over No. 2 seed Akron. The Huskies advance to the BIG EAST title game for the 13th time in program history, and first appearance since 2011.
 
Through the first 45-minutes both defenses withstood a share of scoring opportunities to enter the break in a scoreless 0-0 draw. Akron (11-4-3, 5-2-1 BIG EAST) held a 2-1 shot on goal advantage in the first half.
 
Out of the break, it was the Zips that stuck first as reigning BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year Stefan Dobrijevic dished a line drive across the 18-yard box to Thomas O’Rourke for the opening strike in the 49^th minute. Jack Roman also picked up an assist on the play.
 
10 minutes later it was the Huskies (11-3-4, 5-2-1 BE) that connected on an equalizer, as Austin Brummett buried home a shot off an assist by Ayoub Lajhar and Preston Alessio.
 
The Huskies took the lead in the 71^st minute when Alessio found the back of the net off an assists by Balthazar Saunders and Max Gummesson.
 
The goal proved to be the difference maker as the Huskies advance to play the winner of the second semifinal matchup between No. 1 seed Georgetown and No. 4 seed Providence.