BOX SCORE
PHOTO GALLERY
West Hartford, Conn. – Senior Amanda Lo Bello, playing in her final regular season home game came off the bench to score an insurance goal for the Hawks, helping lead her team to a 2-0 shutout of Vermont on Sunday afternoon at Al-Marzook Field. The Hawks improve to 13-0-2 on the season and 6-0-0 in conference play, while the shutout is the 12th of the season for the Hawks.
Prior to the game, the Hawks honored Lo Bello and five of her classmates who all were playing in possible their final game at Alumni Stadium. Along with Lo Bello, the Hawks honored Jenee King, Nicole Weil, Lauren Brodeur, Michele DeSanti and Mary Beth Hamilton.
Coming out of the gates, the Hawks proved they weren't going to be bothered by the emotions of senior day, putting pressure on the Catamounts defense from the opening whistle. Junior Caitlin Alves provided the first offense of the game early in the 17th minute. The goal for Alves was her team- and conference-leading 10th of the season, and was the seventh straight goal that she has had a part in scoring.
Amélia Pereira began the play with a direct kick about 10 yards outside the 18-yard box that Catamounts keeper Sarah Leiby attempted to punch out of the box, but it ended up in Alves lap as she sent it home with a high soft boot from just off the goal line.
Lo Bello's goal came in the 37th minute as she connected with freshman Chanel Johnson who had just entered the game 84 seconds earlier. The play began in Vermont's end as they had a free kick that the Hawks cleared straight to Johnson short of the midfield line. Johnson sent a long pass along the ground, through the middle, that found Lo Bello on the run. Lo Bello, who kept a five-yard cushion from her closest defender all the way into the box, used a move to her left that eluded Leiby and left Lo Bello wide open needing just a light touch for her second goal of the season.
The Hawks finished the first half with a 7-3 advantage in the shot column; however none of those shots truly challenged the Hawks keeper who did finish the first 45 minutes with a single save. That lone save came on a shot attempt that was well beyond 25 yards out.
Coming out of the halftime break, the Catamounts increased the pressure, but couldn't manage to muster an open look. Off a corner kick in the 59th minute, Quinlan was put to the test, but made a spectacular leaping save to her right. Bre Pletnick, who started the second half off the bench, found herself on the receiving end of the corner kick and used a header attempt to score, but Quinlan sniffed out the play and was able to make the diving stop.
Quinlan would be put to the test just once more in the second half, finishing the game with three total saves. Quinlan's 12th blank slate between the pipes extends a new school record for solo shutouts in a single season that she broke last time out against Maine.
The Hawks will play their final two regular season games on the road, the first at Albany on Thursday afternoon. The Hawks and Great Danes will battle with a possible America East Championship first-round bye on the table for the Hawks. Hartford and Albany are scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. first kick.
