BOX SCORE
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Anthony Santaga and David Bernhardsson, a pair of sophomore transfers, connected in the 93rd minute of play to lift the University of Hartford men's soccer team to a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over the Binghamton Bearcats on Senior Night at Alumni Stadium on Wednesday evening. With the victory, the Hawks' second this season, Hartford clinched a spot in the upcoming America East Championships, a tournament that welcomes the top-six teams in the league standings and kicks-off on Saturday, November 5.
Just 125 seconds into extra time, Hartford earned a corner kick allowing Bernhardsson to set the stage for the dramatic game-winner. Bernhardsson's pass from the right corner was sent high, finding fellow classmate Santaga who put the finishing touches on the play for his team-leading fourth goal this season. The shot was the first attempt of the overtime period for both teams.
Hartford (5-8-4, 2-2-2 AE) held a commanding 15-5 advantage in the shots column over the visiting Bearcats (4-10-2, 0-5-1 AE) and also won the battle of the corner kicks, 8-2.
The Hawks were the aggressors in the opening half of the match, blasting Binghamton's defense with six shots while allowing just one by the Bearcats. Hartford also held a commanding 4-0 advantage in corners in the first 45. Hartford senior Luke Citriniti was challenged just three times in net on the match, making two saves, while his counterpart Chris Hayen tallied four saves.
Bernhardsson made each of Hartford's goals possible on Wednesday evening as he also provided the pass, on a corner kick, to rookie Connor Yeaney's who used his head to direct a line drive past Bearcats' keeper Hayen into the back of the net in the 41st minute of action.
After coming out of the halftime break with a 1-0 advantage, the Hawks nearly doubled their lead in the 71st minute. From the right side, Bernharddson snuck a low pass to the center of the box, finding junior James Stamopoulos. After collecting the pass, Stamopoulos snuck a low shot through the Bearcats' defense towards the right corner. Stamopoulos' attempt was placed out of reach of Hayen, but just nicked the right goal post.
Binghamton countered late in the match when Ryan Walter cleaned up on his own shot attempt in the 75th minute of action. Walter's first look came from point blank from just five yards out however Citriniti was in place to make the stop. After juggling the rebound in front of the target, Walter punched-in his third goal on the season from just yards away from the goal line to knot the match at 1-1.
The Hawks saw a key opportunity to again regain the lead in the 82nd minute. Senior Patrick Boucher dodged a Binghamton defender just outside of the box and worked his way deep into the Bearcats' zone. On a one-on-one with Hayen, Boucher rifled a low shot towards the left post however Hayen dove to his left and was able to make the impressive save when he knocked the ball out past the goal line.
Prior to Wednesday's match, six Hartford seniors – Jordan Bar, Boucher, Citriniti, Andrew Liapis, Matt McElroy and Jorge Rodriguez – were honored with a Senior Night ceremony.
Hartford wraps up its 2011 regular season with a road trip to Stony Brook on Sunday, October 30. First kick between the Hawks and Seawolves is slated for 5:00 p.m.
