BURLINGTON, Vt. – The University of Hartford men's soccer team dug itself out of an early deficit, but was unable to hold on to that lead as the Vermont Catamounts rallied for two-straight goals and scored a 3-2 victory over the Hawks in league play at Virtue Field on Saturday afternoon.

With the setback, their second in three matches, the Hawks dip to 6-5-1 overall with a 0-1-1 record in the America East. Sophomore Mathias Axelsson paced Hartford, assisting on both of his team's goals while rookie Viltsu Tuumi enjoyed another career day in net, making a personal-best nine saves for the second-straight outing. 
 
Vermont (5-4-3, 2-0-0 AE) reached the scoreboard first when veteran D.J. Edler scored for the fifth time this season in the 26th minute. He provided the home team with the 1-0 lead after coming away with a loose ball in Hartford's zone and striking a low shot from 18-yards out past Tuumi.

The Hawks were quick to counter however as Javoni Simms scored the equalizer less than four minutes after the first strike. Axelsson set up the second goal of the match and Simms' team-best eighth marker of the year after sending a cross deep into the box. Simms then used his head to beat Vermont keeper Conor Leland and tie the game at 1-1.

The score would remain tied at one goal apiece heading into the halftime break.

Just 20 minutes out of the intermission, the Hawks took their first lead of the game at 2-1 thanks to sophomore Rohan Roye's second goal of the season. The marker, which was the first of three scored within a span of 20 minutes, was again set up by an Axelsson cross following a long pass from junior Anthony Santaga.

That advantage was short-lived for Hartford though as it only took 112 seconds for the Catamounts to answer back. Edler again had a share in the goal as he served a free kick off the boot of Sean Sweeney into the top of the penalty box, finding Joe Losier. Losier one-timed the ball into the net and made it a 2-2 game.

The game-winning tally was generated just 26 seconds later when Zach Paul found the back of the net in the 68th minute. After receiving a feed from Losier, Paul eluded Tuumi and provided the Catamounts with the go-ahead goal for the 3-2 triumph.  

Hartford finished the match with nine shots, but was outshot by its opponents as Vermont recorded 20 attempts. The home team also led in corner kicks by a 9-1 margin. Leland was credited with one save on the afternoon. Tuumi's nine saves tied a career-high which was established in last week's conference opener at BU.

After spending the last two weeks on the road, Hartford returns home for a pair of league games. The home stand begins on Wed., Oct. 10 as New Hampshire invades Al-Marzook Field for a 7:00 p.m. first kick.