BOX SCORE

DURHAM, N.H. - Just three days ago, the Hartford women's soccer team was fighting for its life, sitting in sixth place and only one point ahead of Binghamton for the sixth and final spot in the America East tournament. Two games later, the Hawks have charged into the tournament as the third seed after knocking off New Hampshire in the Granite State, 1-0. Caroline Dixon scored the game's lone goal and Lauren Brodeur made four saves to help the Hawks earn the third seed and a home game with No. 6 Maine on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m.

Hartford (7-8-3, 4-2-2) has relied on its defense all season long, and got exactly what it needed on Sunday with a shutout effort against the host Wildcats. New Hampshire managed just four shots on goal, three of which came in a scoreless first half.

In the game's 50th minute, Shealagh Begley threaded a pass into a cutting Caroline Dixon at the top of the 18-yard box. Dixon weaved her way just 10 yards away from the  net, and unleashed a screamer over the head of Wildcat goalkeeper Erica Correa. The ball eluded the reach of Correa, but hit off the crossbar. Instead of rebounding back into play, though, the ball had enough spin on it to keep moving forward, ricocheting down off the crossbar and into the net. Hartford had a 1-0 lead that it would not relinquish.

New Hampshire managed two threats with less than 13 minutes to play in regulation, but could not convert. The Wildcats beat Brodeur in the game's 79th minute, but the defense collapsed and managed to punch the ball out for a team save. Less than four minutes later, Brodeur stopped Monique Lamotte's attempt, the Wildcats' final shot on goal.

Hartford finished with 14 points in the conference this season, giving it enough for the third seed in the America East Championship. The Hawks will host sixth-seeded Maine on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium. With a win, Hartford would visit second-seeded Stony Brook on Sunday, October 31 for a berth in the championship game.