BOX SCORE
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – After 110 minutes of action on Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium, the University of Hartford men's soccer team and Marist Red Foxes played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening. The Hawks, who move to 2-5-2 on the season, will next face Nutmeg State foe Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Conn. on Tuesday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Hartford got on the scoreboard in the 41st minute thanks to rookie Atobra Ampadu's second goal on the season but the Red Foxes (4-2-3) countered later in the match in the 75th minute to force extra time. Despite holding a commanding 6-1 advantage in the overtime periods, the Hawks could not find the game-winner and earned their second tie in their last three attempts.
After the majority of the first half being played in between the two 18-yard boxes, sophomore transfer Anthony Santaga provided the piece of the puzzle that gave the Hawks the 1-0 advantage. On a breakaway, the forward sent a long pass downfield to a streaking Ampadu who, from 15-yards out, booted a low shot to the left corner, beating Marist keeper Steve Skonieczny.
The Hawks saw a chance to double their lead to 2-0 in the middle of the second period on a corner kick. In the 71st minute, Santaga used his head to make contact on a ball off the boot of senior Patrick Boucher and sent a high shot on target from just five yards out. His attempt, however, was deflected after Skonieczny got his fingertips on the ball and soared just over the crossbar.
Marist evened the score at the 74:02 mark when Stephan Brossard provided the offense for Lucas Szabo. Stazbo converted on Brossard's long cross from the left side and used his head to send the game-tying marker into the left corner of the net, out of reach of Hawks' keeper Luke Citriniti.
In extra time, Hartford saw the best opportunity to break the tie in the 95th minute when Ampadu and Santaga again found themselves deep in Red Foxes territory with just the goalkeeper to beat. From inside of the 18-yard box, Ampadu guided a pass back to Santaga on the break who quickly unloaded a shot to the upper left corner however Skonieczny came through for the Red Foxes, making the diving save to prevent the game-winning tally from reaching the back of the net.
Despite finding themselves down one player in the second overtime period after a Marist player received a red card, the Hawks could not convert on their three shot attempts and the match resulted in a 1-1 tie.
Hartford dominated in the shots column, 20-7, and held a commanding 9-3 advantage in corner kicks. Citriniti made three saves in the match while his Skonieczny, his counterpart, recorded six stops. Ampadu, Santaga and James Stamopoulos each attempted four shots to lead Hartford's attack.
