BOX SCORE
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Hartford women's soccer team concluded its three-game homestand on Thursday evening with a 3-0 loss to Boston University in a matchup between the top two teams in the America East standings. The Hawks were unable to do much offensively, putting just three shots up with junior forward Breeanna Robinson out for much of the game with an injury.
Amelia Pereira was the America East Player of the Match for the Hawks, firing two of the three shots for the Hawks (4-7-3, 1-1-2).
“Tonight just wasn't our night,” head coach John Natale said after the game. “We're still in good position, though. We came into the game in second place…now we have this weekend off, and need to recover from some nagging injuries that have bothered us for most of the year.”
Boston University got on the board quickly, converting on some strong pressure in the first ten minutes of play. Shauna Kelleher fired a shot over the head of Hawks goalkeeper Lauren Brodeur. The ball hit off the crossbar, however, and Tiya Gallegos corralled it and poked it in to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead.
Not long after the Terriers' first goal, Robinson got tangled up in a scramble for a loose ball just inside the Hartford offensive end. Robinson was called for a foul as she went to the ground, and had to be taken from the game after the injury. She sat on the training table for the remainder of the game.
“Bree is a forward that gives other teams a lot of problems,” Natale said. “It definitely changed our offensive attack when she went out so early on.”
In the 31st minute of play, the Terriers made it a two-goal lead when Jessica Luscinski scored off a direct kick from 30 yards out on the right side of the goal. The kick lined just over the outstretched arms of Brodeur and into the back left corner of the net.
After halftime, Corie Halasz pounded the Terriers' third goal in from 15 yards out in the game's 60th minute.
Despite the score, Hartford's defense did a solid job against a high-powered Terrier offense which put up strong shots from nearly anywhere on the field. Brodeur made seven saves, including several which forced her to leave her feet to get a hand on Terrier shots.
Hartford will use this weekend to rest up and recover after a busy first half of their conference schedule. The Hawks will be back in action next Thursday when they visit Vermont. Hartford will be back at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium on October 21 when they host UMBC at 7:00 p.m. for Senior Night.
