We’re more than just a basketball school

UConn prides itself on having one of the best athletic departments in the country. It seems like every year there are several teams competing for conference and national championships.

We all know about the basketball teams success, and even the football team looks to be on the right track for some good seasons in the future, but what about the smaller teams at UConn? The games you don’t have to pay to get in to, or the games where you can sit front row without waiting in line for hours.

These are the games which make athletics at UConn something special.

Hockey

Hockey is without a doubt one of the most fun sports to watch in person, and when the team playing has “UCONN” on their jerseys, how could it get any better? While our women’s ice hockey still calls the Freitas Ice Forum behind the soccer stadium their home, the men’s team started playing their home games at the XL Center in Hartford after they joined the Hockey East conference last year.

It’s an easy drive from campus, and UConn offers cheap bus rides if you don’t want to drive yourself. Most importantly, tickets are FREE! You can pick them up from the ticket office on campus up to a week before every game.

Men’s hockey is getting better every year and are starting to be a part of the national conversation when it comes to college hockey.

I was at the the last home game and enjoyed 2nd row seats behind the net. There’s not a bad seat in the XL center, they serve beer, and games are a lot of fun to watch. Hockey games are a must-see sporting event if you’re a UConn fan.

Soccer

UConn soccer has a very proud following of fans after a long history of success. Coaches like Joe Morrone, Len Tsantiris, and Ray Reid have helped build strong programs for both the men and women. A new stadium and soccer complex is in the plans for the near future but Morrone stadium is still the home of both of our soccer teams.

While tickets for soccer games are not free, they are usually only a couple dollars, and they often offer free admission for students for certain games. Whether you want to sit in the bleachers and watch the game, or join the goal patrol and harass the other teams goalie, it is easy to enjoy a soccer game at UConn. And don’t miss out on the countless opportunities for a free shirt or scarf.

While the season is coming to a close now, there are a couple more conference tournament games we will be hosting, so be sure to get out and see these teams this year before it’s too late.

Field hockey

I had to write about field hockey here because there’s a chance they, not the women’s basketball team, are the most dominant sports team at UConn. If you haven’t heard, the women’s field hockey team has won the last two national championships. Their record last year was 20-2 and they have a modest 19-0 record this season. On top of that, they are also outscoring their opponents this year 114 goals to 9. If you want to see pure UConn dominance, stop by the turf field behind the gym for a field hockey game.

Volleyball

Gampel doesn’t just house the men’s and women’s basketball teams. UConn volleyball plays their home games in the Pavillion during the fall and always provide good games to watch. This team is also on their way up the ranks in the conference and have a promising future. Volleyball is exciting and when the sets get close, every point becomes more and more intense.

UConn has 22 Division-1 sports teams, all of which make this school one of the best in the country. There is nothing more fun than filling Gampel for a basketball game, or making the trip to Rentschler for Football. But if you have the chance, don’t forget to show support for the other teams on campus.

If you’re looking for something to do they really can be a lot of fun, and who doesn’t love watching UConn kick ass?

Check out all the schedules here.