BOX SCORE
West Hartford, Conn. – The Hawks women's soccer team saw its season come to a close on Monday afternoon, dropping a 1-0 decision to Albany in the semifinals of the America East Championship. Hartford entered as the #2 seed and fell victim to the third seeded Great Danes who advance to face #1 Boston University on Saturday.
Hartford (13-2-3, 6-1-1 America East) allowed the lone goal of the game in the early moments of the second half with Sharla Bergeron netting the tally in the 96 seconds into the second period. Maggie DeVerna provided the initial pass, a header that was miss-cleared by the Hawks defensive line. Bergeron, battled the defense and came away with the ball and an open look at the net with only Hawks keeper Erin Quinlan in the way. Bergeron would fire a hard shot over the head of Quinlan that ricocheted straight down off the cross bar, the bounce of the turf took it inside the net for Bergeron's third goal of the season.
The Hawks had a number of good looks at scoring in the first half, the initial of which came in the 15th minute when Amélia Pereira had a great run ahead the defense after receiving a pass through the Great Danes back line that Pereira chipped right to the keeper who collected and collapsed on the ball. Pereira's shot was about 12 yards out with the keeper making the save about five yards off the end-line on the left of the goal.
Just under three minutes later, Pereira had another look when she collected a defensive miscue from the Great Danes and fired from 18-yard straight away that was again right into the hands of Albany keeper Jackie Ubert.
In the 28th minute the Hawk would use a corner kick to set up their next attempt. Junior Shealagh Begley would provide the initial strike from the corner that was redirected off of senior Michele DeSanti's head. Junior Caitlin Alves would find herself with the ball at her feet, but before being able to get a boot on it, Ubert fell on the ball and pulled it into her grasp.
The Hawks had a pair of attempts within the final 10 minutes of the half, the first coming on a breakaway for freshman Chanel Johnson. Johnson received the pass through the Great Danes defensive line from Alves but in her run into the box was caught from behind by the defense and had the ball cleared out of bounds. Less than two minutes later, Pereira would have another attempt when she sent a direct kick in from about 40 yards out that ricocheted off the post.
Following the Great Danes goal less than two minutes into the second half, the Hawks had a number of chances, outshooting their opponent 13-3. Pereira would again have an opportunity thwarted off a direct kick with just over 22 minutes left in the game. He kick into the box found the senior Amanda Lo Bello whose play on the ball trickled over the end line just right of the net.
The Hawks would see a group of opportunities come with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game, all of which began as a corner kick from Begley. Begley's initial kick from the corner found the opposite post where Lo Bello was able to get a header attempt that caromed off the crossbar where Pereira collected and fired a high shot over the top of the net.
The final attempt for the Hawks came as the final seconds ticked off the clock with a direct kick straight out from about 28 yards. The final shot was sent high over the cross bar as time expired.
