Josh Ford has seen it all.

As the senior captain of the No. 4 Connecticut Huskies, Ford has become like an institution at goalkeeper.

He’s been at the program for five years, redshirting as a freshman; guided the team to three NCAA appearances, won the awards, posted the shutouts – if it weren’t for one elusive goal Ford would probably be bored by now.

“Making the final four is something we would like to accomplish,” Ford said. “I would say that it’s everyone’s goal for our team. The thing about Connecticut is you don’t just think about the small things, but accomplishing something bigger.”

With that in mind, the Huskies have burst out of the gate at 7-0-1, their best start since 1998.

Defense has been the calling card thus far – a staple of Ray Reid’s program and Ford’s tenure.

The young man who already holds the school record for career shutouts has posted four straight heading into tonight’s game against Marquette. He also leads the Big East in save percentage (.917) and is spearheading one of the most feared defenses in the country.

“We emphasize defense from the beginning here,” Ford said. “Everyone has to be committed; you can’t have a couple guys thinking only offense. We have a lot of experience as a whole with (seniors Shawn Nicklaw, Greg King and Robert Brickley) who have basically been together for four years. That goes a long way.”

Ford can only hope.

After redshirting his first year with UConn, Ford wasted little time establishing his name during his first year in goal in 2007 – and he’s started every game there ever since.

He finished that year by tying the all-time Connecticut mark for wins (20) and shutouts (14) in a season.

More importantly, Ford led the Huskies to the NCAA quarterfinals and instantly became a UConn household name.

“It was all confidence: the team had it in me, and I had it in them,” Ford said. “I was able to really feed off of some of our older leaders and grow. They made it easy for me; there were honestly some games I only had to make two saves and sit down.”

Ford has the perfect temperament to lead his team. He has a quiet confidence and a been-there-done-that vibe that keeps the group around him grounded.

He can impress with his athleticism, organize with his voice and guide with his performance.

But his presence on the field means more than stats or wins. Ford represents the program’s successful past and promising future.

And when he’s done with this season and he hangs up his collegiate cleats and gloves for good, he wants to leave his mark in a way that far exceeds his career.

“Hopefully, the success of this team will be remembered,” he said. “We can write our own legacy at UConn by not only winning, but helping the younger players and making an impact on their lives.”