When Len Tsantiris took over as Head Coach of UConn Women's Soccer in 1981, the program was two years old thanks to Title IX and already on solid ground after a 15-4 second season in 1980. And he had a core group of players that were ready to raise the bar a notch in the next few years....That included a set of twins from Trumbull, the Buckley Sisters, Tara (Sweeper) and Moira (Striker) , the perfect match for a program on the rise.
Tara's career was rock solid on the back line...holding down the fort on the defensive end. She did however score a few goals in her UConn Career....While Moira was setting scoring records that have stood the test of time. 19 goals in year one, 20 more in year two....14 assists in 1982 and 12 more helpers in 1983...In all, Moira scored what are still school records, 63 goals and 166 points at UConn.
Their teams played in three consecutive Final Fours (1981 in AIAW) (82' & 83' in NCAA) and a combined record of 67-10-4. The 1982 Team was unbeaten and #1 heading into post season play...Tara was voted Team MVP in 1982 and 83' and was on the early stages of the US National Program between 1983-85'
Tara remains the only UConn Women's Soccer Player to earn All American Honors All four seasons and along with Sara Whalen's #8, Tara Buckley's #5 are the only two numbers retired by UConn Women's Soccer. Tara was inducted into the CT Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003 and along with Moira, went into the UConn Wing of the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, along with UConn Men's Basketball Player, Chris Smith....She earned her Master's in Sports Marketing in 1986.
Moira, meanwhile a three time All American, was inducted into the CT Soccer HOF in 2005 and it appears she's worked her way thru Law School were she's been a Partner at Shipman & Goodwin in Hartford, before working her way up to Assistant Federal Defender in Hartford.
There were many reasons UConn Women's Soccer was a major player in NCAA Soccer in the Early 1980's, The Buckley Sisters were two of them and UConn Legends