WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to the visiting New Hampshire Wildcats in the title game of the 2014 America East Championship. Hartford's lone goal came with just 65 seconds remaining, with senior Chanel Johnson breaking up the Wildcats shutout opportunity. Hartford closes out the 2014 season with a 10-4-5 overall record.

The Wildcats put both of their goals on the board in the first 12 minutes with freshman Brooke Murphy and senior Caroline Murray each tallying the goals. Murray's went as the game-winning goal, that coming in the 12th minute as she took the pass, eluded her defender and fired a shot to the right side. The initial goal for UNH came less than two minutes in as Murphy scored off a feed from senior Meghan Ledwith.

Johnson's goal, her team-leading 12th of the season, came with just over one minute remaining in the game as she drilled a shot from 15 yards out that easily beat the UNH keeper who was out to play the ball. Hartford finished the game with a 23-9 overall advantage in shots, the second most shots in a single game this season for the Hawks.

Following the game, Hartford's Johnson, Sidney Spremullo and Emma Donnelly were named to the America East All-Championship team. Both Spremullo and Donnelly will return in 2015 as seniors, looking to lead the Hawks back to the Championship game for the third time in four years.  

GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

·        UNH put both of its goals on the board in the first 12 minutes of the game with Hartford looking to mount a come-from-behind victory. Freshman Brooke Murphy and senior Caroline Murray scored the Wildcats two goals with Murray's score recorded as the game-winner early in the 12th minute.

·        Hartford saw its first opportunity at breaking the shutout come early in the 18th minute when a free kick from Sidney Spremullo found sophomore Caitlin Smallfield inside the box. Smallfield's header attempt was caught by the Wildcats keeper on the right side.

·        Less than two minutes later the Hawks again looked to strike with Spremullo beginning the threat, this time as a corner kick service. Her cross found senior Chanel Johnson whose header shot was slapped out of danger by the Wildcats keeper who was outstretch to her left. A rebound attempt following that save came off the book of Kristen McAdams with that shot blocked by a defender and pushed over the end line for another corner kick.

·        With just under 30 minutes off the clock in the opening half another corner kick opportunity for Hartford looked as if it may break the shutout. The service provided by Spremullo found the head of senior Raelyn Mikell with that attempt blocked. The rebound found the feet of junior Elise Galipo who drilled a shot on goal that was saved off the goal line by a defender for a Wildcats team save.

·        Coming out of the intermission, the Hawks threatened just three minutes in with Spremullo bending a free kick around a massive wall with Brokan again making a slap save to protect the shutout.

·        Late in the 58th minute the Hawks next opportunity came from Johnson as she took a free kick cross from Spremullo and tried to head in an attempt on the far side of the goal. Brokan again saved the net with a slap save forcing a corner kick.

·        Just under three minutes remaining Johnson fired another shot on goal, this one punched over the net by the Wildcats keeper. She would then break through with 65 seconds remaining, erasing the shutout opportunity by UNH and putting the Hawks within a one-goal deficit inside the final minute of play. Sophomore Tori Tripp provided the pass to Johnson that resulted in the Hawks lone goal.
 

GOALS RUNDOWN 

·        UNH opened the scoring early in the contest with a goal less than two minutes into the game, scored by freshman forward Brooke Murphy working off a pass from senior striker Meghan Ledwith. The forward pass from Ledwith was chased down by Murphy who dribbled forward and fired a shot from a couple yards outside the 18-yard box beating the keeper to the inside right post.

·        The Wildcats added another goal, the eventual game-winner, early in the 12th minute. Senior midfielder Caroline Murray accepted a long pass ahead and beat one defender and sailed a cross into the box. After being batted around inside the box, Murray found the ball at her feet and beat the keeper to the right corner.

·        Hartford broke the shutout with 65 seconds remaining in the game when the America East Striker of the Year Chanel Johnson tallied her team-leading 12th goal of the season. After accepting the feed from midfielder Tori Tripp, Johnson sailed her shot from 15 yards out to the middle of the net with the Wildcats keeper out to play the ball.
 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

·        Senior Chanel Johnson scored her team and league-leading 12th goal of the season.

·        Hartford finished with a 23-9 advantage in shots, the second most shots the Hawks have taken in a single game in 2014.

·        Hartford finishes the 2014 season with a 10-4-5 overall record, the fourth straight year with double digit wins.
 

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less) 

·        Senior striker Chanel Johnson tallied the Hawks only goal in the title game, scoring with 65 seconds remaining to break the shutout.

·        SR Chanel Johnson and JR's Sidney Spremullo and Emma Donnelly were all named to the All-Championship Team.

·        Hartford closes out the 2014 season with a 10-4-5 overall record, the fourth straight year the Hawks have finished with double digit wins.