WEST HARTFORD, CT - The University of Hartford women's soccer team battled the University of Maine to a 1-1 tie in the quarterfinals of the America East Championship on Thursday at Alumni Stadium, but it was the Black Bears who advanced to the next round by a 5-4 margin in penalty kicks.
Hartford ends the season with an overall record of 8-6-5. Maine, which improved to 6-5-7 overall, will play at Boston University in the semifinals on Sunday, November 2 at 1 p.m.
After two scoreless overtime periods yielded no winner, the teams lined up to decide their fate with penalty kicks. Maine goalkeeper Jasmine Phillips was the star of the penalty session. She first gave the Black Bears the advantage by making a diving save in the second round of kicks. She then sealed the victory by drilling home the final PK into the bottom right corner of the goal.
The Hawks took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute off a set play on a corner kick. Senior Kacey Busque served the ball into the box from the far corner that was headed forward by classmate Lauren Aldred. Senior Kellie Leyland was waiting in front of the left post and quickly one-timed the ball home for her first goal of the season.
Hartford led 1-0 at the half but saw its lead vanish in the 50th minute. Maine had the ball locked in Hartford territory and sent it to the endline, where it was served in front of the goal. Freshman goalkeeper Lauren Brodeur came out a few steps to intercept the cross, but in doing so she collided with another player and lost control of the ball. It squirted out a few feet, just enough for Maine's Carolyne Nellis to get a foot on it and poke it into the left side of the goal.
Hartford's best scoring chance in regulation came late in the half on a restart following a Maine foul. Busque played a ball to a wide-open Aldred in the box that was right in front of the goal, but the ensuing header went wide.
Both Phillips and Brodeur each finished with a pair of saves. Hartford held a slight edge in shots (7-5) and corner kicks (3-0) but couldn't take advantage.
