Box Score

WEST HARTFORD, CT – The University of Hartford women's soccer team scored four times in the second half en route to a 4-1 victory over Iona College on Wednesday night at Alumni Stadium.

Senior Becky Flowers netted the game-winning goal in the 80th minute and classmate Laura Guigli added a pair of scores in the final seven minutes as Hartford (2-1-0 overall) came away with a win in its home opener. Iona (1-2-0overall ) never held a lead despite outshooting the Hawks 23-16 in the contest.

Following a scoreless first half in which Iona was the aggressor, Hartford came out and pushed the pace to start the second stanza. The Hawks put pressure on the Gaels' defense and finally broke through in the 57th minute when junior Mary Beth Hamilton played a ball through the box and found sophomore Amber Smyth open on the left side. Her shot, which deflected off the crossbar and into the goal, gave Hartford a 1-0 lead. It was also the first goal of Smyth's collegiate career.

Flowers netted her first goal of the season later in the half. Hartford played a corner kick to the top of the box, which Flowers headed on goal. Iona keeper Kelly Mahoney made the stop but couldn't hold on to the ball. A defender cleared the ball right back to Flowers, who buried a shot into the right corner for a 2-0 Hartford lead.

Less than two minutes later, Iona clawed its way back into the game with a goal in the 82nd minute. Leah Taylor put a shot on goal that sophomore Lauren Brodeur stopped but could not corral. The rebound bounced to Carly Villanova in front of the Hartford net, but her point-blank shot was deflected again by Brodeur. The ball squirted to the far post, where Villanova tracked it down and scored into an empty net.

The Hawks answered right back, as Guigli netted a pair of goals that came less than a minute apart. The first came from just inside the right corner of the box off a feed from freshman Alex Uscilla. Guigli took the pass and placed her shot inside the far post for her first tally of the season. She then put the Hawks up 4-1 on a goal scored from the left side. Hamilton notched her second assist of the game on the play.

Brodeur finished with a season-high 12 saves in the game. Mahoney made two stops for the Gaels.

Hartford returns to action on Sunday, September 6 at Bryant University. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.