BOX SCORE

STONY BROOK. N.Y. - Opening conference play in the America East, the Hartford women's soccer team held serve on the road at Stony Brook, coming away with a 1-1 tie. Sophomore Amelia Pereira scored her second goal of the season to give Hartford a 1-0 lead early in the second half, finishing an assist from junior Alex Uscilla for the Hawks' lone goal.

Hartford put up yet another strong defensive effort, allowing fewer than two goals for a third straight game and fifth in six contests. Led by junior Michele DeSanti and sophomore Christiana Lang, Hartford's defense ensured that the Hawks would come away with a point in their first conference game, despite opening on the road. The draw marked the second consecutive year that Hartford and Stony Brook found themselves deadlocked after 110 minutes, and the fourth time in five years.

Hartford came out firing, putting four shots up in the first 15 minutes of play. Pereira, Uscilla and sophomore Caroline Dixon each knocked attempts on goal, only to see Stony Brook's Chelsea Morales make saves to keep the Hawks off the board. Dixon added another shot attempt, this one wide of the net with just over 10 minutes gone in the game.

After Uscilla's shot on goal 15:23 into the game, the Hawks would not challenge Morales again in the first half. Nevertheless, the Hartford defense stood tall, allowing just two shot attempts in the first half. Junior goalkeeper Lauren Brodeur made her first save in the sixth minute of play, and neither team could get a shot attempt off after the game's 23rd minute.

Coming out of halftime, the Hawks once again began pouring on the pressure. In the first three minutes, Hartford forced two Stony Brook fouls. Then, with just under 41 minutes remaining in the game, Uscilla found Pereira open in front of the net, where the sophomore from Portugal did not miss her opportunity. Pereira beat Morales for the Hartford score, the first against the Seawolves since a 1-1 tie in 2006.

The lead would not last long, however, as Stony Brook answered when Sa'sha Kershaw punched in her third goal of the season six minutes later. Her goal was assisted by Colleen McKenna.

Kershaw's score came on Stony Brook's second shot of the second half. The Seawolves would take eight more shots before regulation ended, but the Hartford defense once again proved up to the test. Brodeur finished with seven saves.

The first overtime passed without any serious chances from either side. In the second overtime period, the Seawolves were awarded four corner kicks in less than 90 seconds, but the Hartford defense came up with one more stand, allowing only one shot during the sequence.

Hartford returns home on Thursday, opening a three-game homestand by hosting Binghamton at 7:00 p.m. The Hawks will also have home matches against Albany and Boston University before they have to return to the road. Tickets for all three games are available by calling 860-768-HAWK, or by visiting the Malcolm and Brenda Berman Athletics Box Office at the Reich Family Pavilion.