BOX SCORE
Norfolk, Va. – The University of Hartford women's soccer team squeezed out of Norfolk with a 1-1 tie, needing to recover from a first half goal, in the 2011 season opener against the Old Dominion Monarchs. The Hawks lone goal in the game came from sophomore striker Arielle Aikens.
ODU found the back of the net first with a goal in the 31st minute from Jocelyn Weidener. The midfielder took a cross from the left side from Lisa Bernardini and sent it home with a header shot.
The Hawks took their first attempt at the net within the first 35 seconds of the game when junior Caitlin Alves took a shot that forced the Monarchs Brianna Alvarado to make her first save of the season. The home team responded with three straight shots over the next 16 minutes, the second of which forced Hawks first year keeper Erin Quinlan to make her first save of the season.
The Hawks would put up two more shots in the first half, both coming within a minute of each other. The first from senior Michele DeSanti went wide left, while the second from graduate student Mary Beth Hamilton sailed over the net. Quinlan would be challenged once more in the first half, forced to make a save in the 42nd minute after another header attempt from Jessica Klamut.
Coming out of the halftime break, the Monarchs were aggressive putting two shots on the mark within the first five minutes. The first, which came from Taylor Smith, forced Quinlan to make her third save of the game. The second, from Bernardini careened off the crossbar.
Junior Amélia Pereira sent her first shot of the season on goal in the 54th minute, with her first attempt also ricocheting off the crossbar. Just two minutes later, Bernardini struck again as she forced Quinlan to make a fourth save.
After three more shots from the Monarchs, the Hawks put their first notch on the scoreboard for 2011 when Aikens connected with Pereira in the 76th minute. Periera provided a long pass form the right side of goal with Aikens beating the keeper to with her shot to the left side of the net.
Both teams would combine for just one more shot for the remainder of regulation, the shot coming from the Hawks Caroline Dixon which sailed wide left.
In the first extra period, the Hawks would go without a shot, while the home team sent three shots in, two of which were on goal. The first came within the first two minutes of the overtime period and forced Quinlan to make her fifth save of the game. With just over a minute left in the first extra period, Bernardini again forced Quinlan into action, whose save helped force a second overtime period.
The Hawks would again be held without a shot in the second overtime period, while the Monarchs sent two shots in, the second of which was put on the mark, forcing the first year Hawks keeper to record her seventh save of the game.
Overall for the game, Old Dominion held the lead in total shots with a 17-6 margin, while forcing Quinlan into seven saves. The home team also led the battle of corner kicks with a 5-1 advantage in that category. The Monarchs keeper, Alvarado, was only forced to make one save in 45 minutes of action, while Laura Bush never made a save in 65 minutes of action.
The Hawks will next be in action on Thursday, August 25 when they travel to Holy Cross for a non-conference match-up. The Hawks and Crusaders are scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. opening kickoff.
