West Hartford, CT - The University of Hartford men's soccer team battled to a scoreless tie against conference foe Stony Brook at Al-Marzook Field on Saturday evening in the Hawks' last regular-season home game.
Hartford (7-5-3, 3-2-1 America East) and Stony Brook (2-11-4, 0-3-3 America East) played 110 minute without a goal, battling the torrential rain and wind conditions at Alumni Stadium. The Hawks got a strong effort from junior goalkeeper Nenad Cudic, who made his return after sitting out six games due to injury. Cudic made seven stops for the Hawks, pushing his season total to 45, while recording his third shutout of the season. For the Seawolves, Dawid Ditrich tallied six saves.
Both teams saw several opportunities to put the winning tally on the scoreboard during the overtime periods, but neither team could capitalize and find the back of the net. In the 105th minute of action, Stony Brook's Tom Butler fired a shot towards the Hartford goal, but was just wide to the right. Hartford's best opportunity came with just two minutes left in the match, when freshman Michael Zazzara had an open look at the net from less than 20-yards out. Ditrich was able to make the stop, preventing the game-winning goal.
“Tonight was a typical conference battle, a tie being a just result,” commented head coach Dan Gaspar following the game. “Both teams fought hard under inclement weather conditions, not allowing much soccer to be played.”
Junior midfielder Jaime Thomas was deemed the "Man of the Match" for his efforts at both ends of the field for the Hawks. Great Danes' defender Petar Rakovic earned the honor for Albany.
Hartford will close out its 2008 regular season schedule on the road with two America East Conference matches versus Vermont (Oct. 29) and Boston University (Nov. 1). With two games remaining in the regular season, the Hawks enter the road trip with high hopes of qualifying for the six-team America East Championship which begins on November 8.
