WEST HARTFORD, CT ? The University of Hartford women's soccer team won its second straight conference match on Sunday by defeating UMBC 3-1 at Alumni Stadium.

Senior Lauren Aldred recorded her first career hat trick to lead the Hawks to victory. The last Hartford player to score three goals in a game was Malin Engman against Manhattan on September 17, 2004. Aldred now leads the team in goals (6) and scoring (12 points) for the season.

Hartford, which improved to 5-4-3 overall and 2-1-0 in the America East, was the aggressor all afternoon. The Hawks held a 14-2 advantage in shots and 6-1 in corner kicks. UMBC dropped to 2-11-0 overall and 1-2-0 in the conference.

Aldred's first goal came off a free kick from 30 yards out in the 24th minute. UMBC goalkeeper Christine Bacinski dove to her right and got a piece of the shot, but not enough to keep the ball from finding the back of the net.

Aldred tacked on her second goal with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half. Off a corner kick, senior Kacey Busque played Aldred with a short pass outside the box. Aldred passed back to Busque, who then played the ball right back to Aldred for a shot. She drilled the ball into the left corner of the goal to give the Hawks a 2-0 edge that they would take into halftime.

UMBC made things a bit more interesting in the 73rd minute by cutting the deficit to one. A Hartford foul gave the Retrievers a free kick from 40 yards out. Kali Schwartz served a ball into the box that found Christine Sadowski. She headed a shot to the left post that beat Hartford goalkeeper Lauren Brodeur and cut the margin to 2-1.

Nearly eight minutes later, Aldred added an insurance goal to put Hartford up 3-1. The Hawks played a ball into the box from the left side that Aldred initially tried to head but couldn't put on goal. The Retrievers failed to clear the ball, and the ensuing deflection ended up in front of the goal. Aldred's second attempt came off her right foot from six yards out, and Bacinski didn't have any time to react.

Hartford will next play at Maine on Thursday, October 9 at 3 p.m.