WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford women's soccer team closed out its non-conference schedule with a 3-0 shutout of in-state rival Sacred Heart on Thursday at Alumni Stadium. Freshman keeper Jessica Jurg collected her fifth save thanks in part to Natasha Douglas who scored the game-winning goal for Hartford (5-2-3 overall).

Hartford made easy work of the Pioneers defense for their first work as Chanel Johnson and Douglas taking advantage of a break away two-on-one opportunity. Amanda Hamilton began the play with a forward pass to Johnson who, working against one defender, found Douglas wide open at the top of the box. Douglas dribbled ahead a couple yards and tapped her shot to the lower left corner, curling the attempt around Pioneers keeper Sydney Judkins.

Just over seven minutes later the Hawks added to their tally with Hamilton's second goal of the season. The play began as Santos fired in the contests first corner kick and after that was cleared out she collected and sent a cross back into the six-yard box where Johnson redirected the ball to Hamilton. The graduate student transfer then chipped her first shot of the game from a couple yards off the line to the center of the goal.

In the opening half the Hawks took just two shots but both found their mark while the Pioneers took four shots with only one causing a threat. Jurg easy collected the only save in the half on a weak attempt from Sacred Heart's Marissa Christy early in the fourth minute.

Hartford came out of the halftime break and kept the momentum with a quick goal from sophomore Sidney Spremullo, her first of the season. The midfielder blasted a shot on goal from 19-yards out that caught the entire field by surprise including the Pioneers keeper who made no attempt on the ball.

Jurg would be challenged on two occasions in the second half, collecting saves on an early shot from Chandler Antczyk and an attempt from Alexis Parlato with under seven minutes remaining in regulation.

Hartford, who was picked to win the America East Conference, will begin league action on Sunday afternoon when it travels to Albany for a 2 p.m. kick off against the Great Danes.