BOX SCORE
AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Boston, Mass. – The University of Hartford women's soccer team fell from the rankings of the unbeaten in the nation suffering their first loss at the hands of #16 Boston University in the regular season finale at Nickerson Field in Boston, Mass. The Hawks end the regular season 13-1-3 overall and will enter the 2011 America East Championship as the #2 seed overall.
The Hawks have earned a bye in the quarterfinals of the championship and will play the winner of the #3 Albany vs. #6 Vermont quarterfinal which will be played on Thursday night. The Hawks first game will be a semifinal match-up on Sunday, October 30 at 2:00 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
Boston put the first score on the board in the 30th minute with Taylor Krebbs providing what would prove to be the game-winner. Brittany Heist began the play with a pass over the midfield where Krebbs was able to head it over Hawks keeper Erin Quinlan, who had come out looking to track down the long pass. Krebbs then easily punched it to the back of the net using a high cleat from the top of the 18-yard box. The goal was the sixth of the season for Krebbs.
The Hawks had their best look come late in the half when Amélia Pereira corralled the ball about 17 yards out and working between two defenders had an open look that senior keeper Alice Binns was able to secure and eliminate the scoring opportunity.
Boston would add two insurance goals in the second half in the 77th and 80th minute. The first came from Jessica Luscinski, who would score her team leading eighth goal of the season off a second assist for Heist. Luscinski would then return the favor, providing an assist to Krista Minto for the third marker, her second of the season.
Luscinski's goal began with a long cross from Heist where luscinski was able to track it down at the center of the field straight away with Quinlan who had come outside of the six-yard box to play the ball, but Luscinski flipped it over Quinlan for the goal. Minto was able to curve a shot in from the left corner of the box that just barely dropped under the crossbar eluding the hands of Quinlan who was leaping trying to punch the ball over the net.
Quinlan finished the game with a career-high 15 saves, facing 27 total shots from the Terriers. A majority of the Terriers scoring attempts came from well outside the 18-yard box. Hartford managed just four total shots, with Binns making a pair of saves.
The Hawks will advance to the America East Championship with the first game scheduled for Sunday, October 30 at Alumni Stadium at 2:00 p.m. The Hawks enter as the #1/2 seed and will receive a bye through the first round, learning their semifinal opponent after the quarterfinals scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
