PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior Natasha Douglas scored in the 82nd minute on a break-away opportunity lifting the University of Hartford women's soccer team to a season opening 1-0 shutout of the Bryant Bulldogs on Friday at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium. Douglas combined with sophomore Elise Galipo for the Hawks first goal in the new season.

The scoring opportunity began as Galipo lifted a pass over the top to midfield where Douglas was able to wheel out ahead of two defenders and track down the pass. After dribbling about 30 yards ahead Douglas found herself with a one-on-one opportunity lifting a shot over the head of Bryant keeper Kayla Conrad for the goal.

Overall for the game the Bulldogs finished with a commanding 17-8 advantage in the shot category, however just four of those shots forced Hartford keeper Alison Koerkenmeier into action. The remaining 13 shots went well wide of the net. In addition to the goal, Hartford record two more shots on goal with Conrad collecting a pair of saves.

The Bulldogs also won the corner kick contest with a 7-2 advantage while Hartford was caught offsides on 11 occasions compared to just one for Bryant.

A rather quiet opening half saw a total of nine shots between the two squads with the Bulldogs leading that category with eight of the nine total shots. Just one of those attempts forced Hartford keeper Alison Koerkenmeier into action with the remaining seven attempts wide of the net.

The Hawks lone shot attempt came from sophomore Sidney Spremullo but was off the mark with the Hawks not forcing the Bulldogs keeper into action in the first 45 minutes. Bryant also led in the corner kick battle with a 3-1 advantage while the Hawks were called offsides on five occasions compared to none for Bryant.

Just over five minutes into the second half Hartford saw its best attempts so far with back-to-back shots Arielle Aikens and Chanel Johnson with both needing to be controlled by the Bryant keeper. The next opportunity for Hartford came in the 67th minute with another break away opportunity for Douglas and Galipo. This time Galipo accepted a pass across the box from Douglas and after a few dribbles fired a shot that narrowly escaped the opposite upright.

Ten minutes later Galipo saved a ball on the end line and pushed it to Douglas. The senior striker turned and had an open look at the net with just the keeper in her path. From about five yards off the line on the outside edge of the box Douglas flew a shot wide of the far upright.

The Bulldogs nearly evened the score off the kickoff following the goal as they quickly worked into the box and forced a corner kick opportunity. With the kick in the air, Koerkenmeier came out to play the ball and found herself out of position but her defense came through, successfully clearing the ball out of the box to reset.

The women's soccer team will return to the pitch on Sunday afternoon as they travel to Philadelphia for their first road contest in 2013. Hartford will take on Saint Joseph's University in a battle of Hawks squads with the opening kickoff set for 1:00 p.m.