PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to the visiting UMBC Retrievers on Sunday afternoon at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium. The loss for Hartford is their first in conference play, breaking a five-game unbeaten streak. The Hawks fall to 8-3-4 overall and 4-1-1 in the America East, currently two points ahead of UMBC and Albany who are tied for second place in the league standings.

UMBC freshman Virginia Moyer scored the only marker of the afternoon when she used a cross from Amanda Dailey in the 72nd minute to loop a shot over the head of the Hawks keeper. Overall for the afternoon, the Retrievers finished with a 13-11 advantage in shots with both keepers forced to make five stops.

The Hawks finished the match with a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks with all five attempts coming in the opening half, when they also posted an 8-4 shot advantage. Senior Chanel Johnson and junior Kristen McAdams each finished with three of the Hawks 11 shots to lead the team.
 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·        Hartford had three opportunities to score early in the game, all coming in a 33 second span late in the ninth minute. The first of those attempts was a shot from Kristen McAdams that deflected off the crossbar. The rebound from that shot found Sidney Spremullo who fired a line drive attempt that UMBC keeper Jen Nance punch up and over the crossbar setting up a corner kick. Spremullo served the restart into the box where it found the head of Erica Primovic whose scoring attempt squeaked through traffic, but Nance was able to track down just before it cross the goal line.

·        Early in the 16th minute Chanel Johnson created Hartford's next opportunity when after gaining possession from a UMBC defender she turned and fired a low drive on goal that Nance need to make a diving stop to her left to protect the goal.

·        Hartford keeper Jessica Jurg made a pair of saves in the opening half, but was never truly challenged by the Retrievers. The first save came on a long diagonal attempt that Jurg easily tracked down and made an uncontested basket save on. The second stop came on a weak header attempt by the Retrievers Jessy Brown.

·        Late in the opening half, the Hawks kept the pressure on the Retrievers for more than a six minute span, recoding four corner kick opportunities in that stretch. The Hawks would manage just one shot in that stretch, an attempt from Johnson that sailed wide.

·        Just over 11 minutes into the second half, Johnson set up another opportunity when she again stole a defensive clear from the Retrievers and fired a diagonal attempt on goal with Nance clutch that attempt in her chest for the save.

·        UMBC's first threat at scoring came early in the 69th minute when Amanda Dailey drove a shot on goal that Jurg made a diving stop on.

·        Following the UMBC score in the 72nd minute, the Retrievers kept the pressure on with a header attempt from Amira Walcott three minutes later that forced Jurg into action.
 

GOAL RUNDOWN 

·        UMBC scored the only goal of the afternoon contest in the 72nd minute, the first career tally for freshman Virginia Moyer. Amanda Dailey began the play with a cross at the top of the 18-yard box that missed its intended target but found Moyer on the opposite side. Moyer turned and looped a shot over the head of the Hawks keeper that found the upper right corner.
 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

·        UMBC finished with a 13-11 shot advantage in the game with either team posting a commanding shot advantage when they had the wind at their backs. Hartford posted an 8-4 advantage in the opening half while the Retrievers had a 9-3 lead in the second half.

·        Hartford keeper Jessica Jurg finished with five saves, while allowing just her second goal in America East play. The loss for Jurg is her first since taking over the keeper responsibilities against Iona on September 14.

·        Despite the defeat, the Hawks still retain the top position in the conference standings, two points ahead of UMBC and Albany who are tied for second with 11 points. If Hartford were to win its next game at Stony Brook and the Retrievers and Great Danes, who play each other, were to draw, the Hawks would secure the regular season title.  
 

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less) 

·        Hartford suffered its 1st loss in league play, breaking a 5-game unbeaten streak. Despite the loss, the Hawks remain first in the AE.

·        Sophomore keeper Jessica Jurg finished with five saves.

·        Hartford trailed in total shots with UMBC leading 13-11. Chanel Johnson and Kristen McAdams each finished with three shots to lead the team.
 

UP NEXT
The Hawks begin a two-game road trip to close out the regular season with stops at Stony Brook and Vermont on the docket. The first stop will come on Thursday, October 26 when the Hawks visit Long Island for a 6 p.m. kickoff against the Seawolves.