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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The non-conference schedule rolls on for the Hartford women's soccer team, which returns to the Nutmeg State this weekend after earning a 1-0 victory at Fairleigh Dickinson last Sunday. Hartford, which is 2-5-0 with both victories coming on the road, will visit Central Connecticut in nearby New Britain on Friday evening before returning home to host Saint Joseph's on Sunday afternoon.
The Hawks open the weekend at CCSU on Friday at 5:00 p.m. Hartford, which co-hosted the Hartford Hawks Soccer Weekend earlier this season with the Blue Devils, will be looking to even its all-time record against Central. The Hawks are 4-5-1 all-time coming into Friday's tilt.
The Blue Devils sport an identical 2-5-0 record to the Hawks, and are returning home for the first time since August 31 when they defeated Holy Cross, 3-2. Central's leading goalscorer is Beth Lloyd, a senior midfielder/forward who has already notched five goals on 16 shots this season. Keriann Welch has added two tallies, and Nathalie Nilsson has dished out four assists. Having played the large majority of the minutes in goal for Central this season, Niki Deiter is allowing 2.41 goals per game, and has yet to record a shutout.
That is good news for the Hawks, whose offense has been a sticking point for much of the season.
Nicole Weil's goal against Fairleigh Dickinson snapped a three-game scoreless streak for the team, which has notched just six goals all season.
Breeanna Robinson has three of those scores, good for fourth place in the America East.
After its game with the Blue Devils, Hartford will return to Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium for its final home non-conference tune-up of the season on Sunday afternoon, when the Hawks take on Saint Joseph's at 2:00 p.m. St. Joe's comes into the weekend 2-4-0, looking to snap a two-game losing streak at FDU on Friday night before traveling to West Hartford. Friday's results not withstanding, one trend is likely to change on Sunday as Hartford has yet to score a goal or earn a victory at home, while Saint Joseph's is 2-0 at home with seven goals and 0-4 on the road with just two tallies.
St. Joe's is paced by Jen Pfeiffer, who came into the week tied for 11th in the nation with six goals scored. Mo Hawkins also has two scores, and has assisted on four of the Hawks' nine goals this season. The Hawks are a strong passing team, with ten total assists on just those nine scores. On the other end, though, St. Joe's has had trouble stopping their opponents' attack, allowing 15 goals and 11 assists through six games. Christine Neal and Lauren Jancuska have each seen signifiant minutes in goal for Saint Joe's. Neal has been the primary starter and has allowed an average of 3.09 goals per game, while Jancuska has played just over 100 total minutes in two contests, making four saves and not allowing a score coming into the weekend.
Tickets for Sunday's game are still available, and can be purchased by calling 860-768-HAWK or by visiting the Malcolm and Brenda Berman Athletics Box Office at the Reich Family Pavilion. They can also be purchased at the gate on Sunday.