WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – A goal just 40 seconds into the game proved to be the only one needed as junior forward Sidney Spremullo tallied her first game-winning goal of the season off an assist from classmate Elise Galipo as the University of Hartford women's soccer team (10-3-5) defeated Albany 1-0 to advance to the America East Championship game. Hartford will host the New Hampshire Wildcats in the title game on Saturday, November 8 with the opening kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium.

Spremullo, an America East First Team All-Conference selection, recorded her eighth goal of the season, extending her career-best for a single year. The assist for Galipo is her third of the season, tied for the second most on the team. Sophomore keeper Jessica Jurg finished with four saves, five total for the Hawks, earning her sixth shutout in 2014. Overall, Hartford finished with a 19-8 advantage in shots, placing five total on goal.

Hartford, the #1 seed in the tournament, advances to the title game of the league championship for the first time since 2012, looking to secure the programs eighth league title and first since 2006. Overall, the top seed in the conference championship has advanced to the title game in every season except for 1996. The third seeded Wildcats advanced 6-5 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw at UMBC.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

·        Junior Sidney Spremullo, an All-Conference First Team selection, tallied the game-winning goal just 40 seconds into the game, working with classmate Elise Galipo who recorded her third assist of the season. Junior defender Emma Donnelly, also a First Team selection, provided a pass up the left sideline that traveled more than 60 yards. Galipo would track down that pass just before the end line and provide a cross back towards the top of the 18-yard box. Spremullo knocks down the cross, gathers and fires a low line drive shot to the opposite side of the net.

·        In the 20th minute the Hawks had a trio of opportunities at adding an insurance goal. The first came from the America East Striker of the Year, Chanel Johnson, from the middle of the 18-yard box with Albany keeper Alana Brennan making but not controlling the save. Spremullo fired a shot off that rebound that was blocked with her rebound finding Johnson who drilled a shot that was gloved over the goal by the keeper.

·        Just three minutes later the Hawks had a four-on-four opportunity with a cross from Johnson finding Galipo on the left side. The shot from Galipo went into the side of the net. Less than a minute later, off the restart, Kristen McAdams, an All-Conference Second Team selection, took the ball away from a Great Danes defender, turned and fired a shot on goal with Brennan making a diving stop to her right on a ball that would have been just inside the upright.

·        Late in the 38th minute Johnson dribbled forward nearly 50 yards and after working through the defense fired a diagonal shot from the left side of the six-yard box that hit the right post and trickled out of bounds.

·        Following the intermission, the Hawks had the first opportunity seven minutes in when Johnson and Galipo has a two-on-two opportunity. Johnson provided a pass from the middle of the field to her left where Galipo drilled a shot on a charging Albany keeper with that attempt just outside the right post.

·        Albany only true opportunity at scoring came in the 72nd minute working off of a corner kick. The restart, served in by Krista Fitzpatrick, found midfielder Alex Schneider on the opposite side of the box with her header kick saved off the end line by a Hartford defender, McAdams.

·        Inside the final 10 minutes, the Hawks had two more opportunities at adding an insurance score with the first coming Galipo who gathered a cross through the box from Johnson. She attempted a chip shot over the Albany keeper that went just over the cross bar. Less than three minutes later Spremullo had a free kick just outside the box blocked for a corner kick. Her restart from the corner found Raelynn Mikell for a header attempt with another shot coming from McAdams off the rebound of Mikell's header. McAdams shot sailed just high of the crossbar.
 

GOALS RUNDOWN 

·        Just 40 seconds into the game, junior Sidney Spremullo drilled home the lone goal in the contest scoring to the opposite corner on a line drive attempt. Classmate Emma Donnelly began the play when she trailed a long pass, nearly 60 yards, down the left sideline that was tracked down by Elise Galipo, also a junior. She turned around her defender and provided a cross back towards the top of the box where Spremullo knocked it down and fired a shot to the opposite side evading the Great Danes keeper.
 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

·        The game-winning goal from junior Sidney Spremullo was her eight score of the season and her first game-winner. She had not scored a goal in 31 days, with her last goal coming as part of a hat trick against the UMass Lowell River Hawks on October 2.

·        The assist for Elise Galipo is her third of the season, tying senior Chanel Johnson for the most on the team, behind Spremullo's team-best six. The three assists in 2014 is one shy of her career-high four set last season.

·        Hartford advances to the title game for the 11th time overall and the first time since 2012. The Hawks are looking for their eighth America East Championship and first since 2006.

·        With a 19-8 advantage in shots against Albany, the Hawks have now outshot 13 of 18 opponents in 2014. Overall for the season, Hartford is outshooting its opponents 271-189.
 

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less) 

·        The @Uhartladyhawks advance to the #AEWSOC Championship game following a 1-0 shutout of Albany in semifinal action.

·        JR F Sidney Spremullo, an #AEWSOC 1st Teamer, scored her 1st game-winner when she connected with Elise Galipo just 40 seconds into the game.

·        The @Uhartladyhawks outshot their 13th opponent of the season with a 19-8 advantage against Albany.

·        SO GK Jessica Jurg recorded four saves, five total for @Uhartladyhawks, for her sixth shutout of the season, the 10th overall for Hartford.

·        The @Uhartladyhawks will host the UNH Wildcats at Alumni Stadium in the title game on Saturday, Nov. 8. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
 

UP NEXT
The Hartford women's soccer team will host the America East championship game for the second time in three seasons when they welcome the New Hampshire Wildcats to Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium on Saturday, November 8. Kickoff in the title game is scheduled for 3 p.m. with all the action available live on AmericaEast.TV