BOX SCORE
VIDEO REPLAY (Media Archives)
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford men's soccer team came out on top for the second consecutive game this season as it posted a 1-0 shutout of in-state rival Central Connecticut State on Saturday evening in front of a season-best crowd of 886 at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium.
The Hawks, who have blanked back-to-back Northeast Conference and Nutmeg State opponents, also take home their second-straight home victory to level out their overall record to 2-2 this season. The Blue Devils, who have yet to play a game at home, drop to 1-2.
Hartford took advantage of a miscue by Central Connecticut State net minder Anthony Occhialini to get on the scoreboard early in the match. In an attempt to intercept a center cross set up by Hawk forward Patrick Boucher, Occhialini, after snatching the pass just inches from the goal line, lost control and dropped the ball backward into his own goal just four minute after the contest's first kick.
The Hawks dominated on the defensive end of the pitch for the remainder of the second half as they battled to prevent the Blue Devils from settling deep in their zone. Central Connecticut managed just one first half shot against the Hartford back line which fired off five of its own in the stanza, forcing Blue Devils keeper Occhialini to make two stops.
The Blue Devils applied the pressure defensively in the second half and in turn controlled the ball for the majority of the final stanza. The visitors outshot the Hawks by a margin of 5-1 in the final 45 minutes of action.
Central Connecticut State's best looks to put game-tying tally on the scoreboard came deep in the game in the 81st minute. On a free kick, defender Jared Spieker headed the ball from point blank at 80:53 but was rejected by the crossbar. Aaron Durr tracked down the rebound and fired a shot towards the corner of the goal, out of range from Hartford keeper Jordan Bar, however the Hartford defense blocked the attempt before it crossed the goal line to preserve the shutout.
Bar has recorded a clean slate in his first two performances for the Hawks and improves his record to 2-0. With the help of the intense back line, he did not record a save in the match. Occhialini finished with a pair of saves.
After concluding a three-game home stand, Hartford hits the road for its next three contests. The Hawks will next face a pair of Big East squads starting at St. John's – the reigning Big East champions – on Friday, September 17 (8:00 p.m.) followed by a trip to New Jersey to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Sunday, September 19 (2:30 p.m.).
