Looks like the RPI called it right by labeling the Big East as a weak conference. Of the three schools involved in the first round out of the conference, two fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday.
UConn traveled to Monmouth in a match-up of two top 25 teams who failed to earn a seeding in the tournament. The game was even throughout, with Monmouth more than holding their own against an experienced UConn program. Neither side could breach the net, and when the game went into penalties, a sensational save in the last round by Hawks keeper Bryan Meredith allowed his side to clinch their first ever NCAA Tournament win. Monmouth travels next to Harvard on Sunday for the second round.
The other Big East team to go down was Louisville. The Cardinals had no easy task, traveling on the road to take on Indiana. And it was Louisville native Darren Yeagle coming up big against his hometown school, scoring a brace in a 2-0 win for the Hoosiers.
Here's a complete list of first round results:
What did you think of the first round? What results surprised you?
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