BOX SCORE
West Hartford, Conn. – The University of Hartford women's soccer team closed out the non-conference portion of its 2011 schedule the same way it began with a 1-1 stalemate against Fairfield University on Wednesday night. The Hawks lone goal in the game came from sophomore Arielle Aikens, her second of the season, in the 54th minute. Hartford remains unbeaten on the season with a 7-0-2 record, while Fairfield now stands at 2-2-3 overall.
Hartford opened the match putting pressure on the Stags defense from the onset. Junior Amélia Pereira provided the Hawks first shot of the game, with her header attempt off a cross hitting off the crossbar and out of bounds. Despite a 5-5 tie in first half shots, and three first half saves for Hawks keeper Erin Quinlan in the first 45 minutes, the teams took a 0-0 standoff into the locker room for the break.
Coming out of the intermission, the Hawks again put Fairfield's defense on edge, forcing Stags keeper Kelly Boudreau into action with a pair of saves in the first three-plus minutes. Nine minutes following the interlude, the Hawks would strike with the first goal of the game off the boot of Aikens. Fifth-year Hawks Mary Beth Hamilton provided the first piece of the puzzle when she sent a pass deep in the Fairfield end, which junior Jessica Murphy sent across the box where it found Aikens wide open, finishing the play with a blast from 12 yards off the line.
Following another quick shot from junior Caitlin Alves, and two quick attempts from Fairfield's Lauren Riley that Quinlan scooped up, the Stags would find the back of the net in the 64th minute when Torey Camporini corralled a clear attempt by the Hawks and blasted a shot through traffic that eluded Quinlan. Prior to that goal, the Hawks keeper had not allowed a score in 710-plus minutes, dating back to the season opener against Old Dominion on August 19.
In the second extra period, the Hawks would have a pair of looks at the goal late in the period. Alves would put Boudreau to the test in the 108th and 109th minute, both coming on header attempts that didn't find their way past the hand of the Stags keeper.
The Hawks next match-up will be its furthest conference trip of the season when they travel to UMBC for a Sunday afternoon matinee with the Retrievers. Both teams conference opener is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. kick off at the Retriever Soccer Park in Baltimore, Md.
