Box Score ALBANY, N.Y. – The University of Hartford women's soccer team (6-2-3, 1-0 America East) erased a halftime deficit to top the Albany Great Danes on Sunday afternoon by a 3-1 margin. Senior Natasha Douglas added to her team lead with the game-tying and game-winning goals less than 10 minutes apart.
Douglas' two goals now gives her five total for the season, while she now has 11 points to her credit, four more than Chanel Johnson who has two goals and three assists in 2013. Joining Douglas in Sunday's scoring column was sophomore Sidney Spremullo, her second goal in as many contests.
Albany put the first score on the board just under five minutes into the game when Caitlyn Paltsios scored her first goal of the season. Hartford and Albany finished the opening half each with eight shots with the Great Danes forcing Hawks keeper Jessica Jurg to make three stops. Great Danes net minder, Jackie Ubert collected a pair of saves in the first half.
The Hawk came out of the halftime break and changed the momentum with all three of their goals within a 20 minute span. The game-tying goal came in the 60th minute with Douglas working in partnership with Caitlin Smallfield who sent a long pass over the top of the Great Danes defense. Douglas out-wheeled Albany's backline and slotted the ball to the right of Ubert.
Douglas added the game-winning tally in the 68th minute, this time working with Emma Donnelly. Douglas sneaked between the Great Danes backline and keeper where she received a looping pass from Donnelly and poked the ball past Ubert.
Spremullo's second goal of the season came in the early seconds of the 79th minute working with Arielle Aikens and Elise Galipo for the insurance marker. The play began as Raelynn Mikell played the ball up the line to Aikens who sent a pass into the box. Galipo was able to get a head on the pass and flick the ball from the near post to the far post where Spremullo volleyed her shot into the rook of the net.
Hartford finished the conference opening contest with a 17-10 advantage in the shot category, holding the home team to just two shots in the final 45 minutes, neither of which tested the Hawks keeper. Ubert would add one more save in the second half for three total in the game.
The Hawks return to Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium for their next three games. First on the list is the Maine Black Bears who visit West Hartford on Thursday, October 3. Hartford and Maine are scheduled for a 7 p.m. start. To purchase tickets to Thursday's America East home opener call the Malcolm and Brenda Berman Athletic Ticket Office at 860.768.HAWK or email visit hartford.streamlineticketing.com.Â
