PHOTO GALLERY
Quick Hits
· The third straight shutout for Hartford to open the 2014 season is the third time in the history of the program the Hawks have not allowed a goal through three games. The most recent came in 2008 when the Hawks opened the season with a 2-0-1 record.
· The Hawks outshot their opponent for the third straight game, closing out the CCSU game with a 16-12 overall shot advantage.
· Senior keeper Alison Koerkenmeier shutout her third-straight opponent against CCSU. In seven career starts, Koerkenmeier has not allowed an opponent to score in five.
· In 13 match-ups between Hartford and CCSU the Hawks and Blue Devils have finished in a draw just twice. The first was also a 0-0 stalemate in 2008 at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium.
Full Release
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Senior keeper Alison Koerkenmeier collected five saves to secure the University of Hartford women's soccer teams third-straight shutout, finishing with a 0-0 stalemate against in-state rival CCSU on Thursday night.
Hartford (2-0-1) finished its third-straight game outshooting its opponent, closing out the two-overtime draw against CCSU with a 16-12 advantage. Leading the Hawks efforts was senior striker Chanel Johnson who finished with six total attempts. The Hawks also finished with a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Sophomore Aaliyah Ingram provided the first opportunity for either team with a shot off a free kick from 45 yards out to the left of the goal. Ingram's attempt forced CCSU keeper Nikki Turley to make her first of four saves in the game.
The Hawks kept the pressure on with Johnson taking her first shot of the game in the 18th minute after breaking through the defense on the right side of the goal. Her attempt at squeezing inside of the opposite upright went wide. Johnson provided the next Hawks attempt in the 28th minute as she again had a break away opportunity. With the defense a few yards behind her, Johnson had her attempt broken up by the Central keeper who came out of the six-yard box. After recollecting the ball, she fired a shot that again went wide of the opposite corner.
Overall, Hartford finished with a 7-4 shot advantage in the opening half with the final of the period coming with 87 seconds remaining before the break. That attempt was a line drive from Erica Primovic from the top of the box that with Turley thwarting that attempt for her second save.
Coming out of the intermission, the Blue Devils put the early pressure on with a pair of shots in the first six minutes, including the first that saved Koerkenmeier into action. That attempt came in the 49th minute off the boot of Morgan Santoro. The Hawks best look in the second half came in the 86th minute as Johnson sent another attempt that was just feet outside of the left upright.
In the first extra frame the Blue Devils provided the first scoring opportunity in the 95th minute on a free kick from 40 yards out. The attempt was collected by Koerkenmeier ending the threat.
Hartford's best chance at scoring in overtime came as a pair of opportunities in the second 10 minute frame. Kristen McAdams provided the first of those opportunities in the 104th minute when sent a free kick from straight on at the top of the box which went right at the Blue Devils keeper. With just over a minute remaining in the contest Sidney Spremullo provided the final opportunity for either team when she collected a corner kick deflection at the top of the box firing a shot that forced Turley to take a diving stop to her right.
The Hartford women's soccer will return to the field on Sunday afternoon when it travels to Fairfield University for a second-straight game against an in-state rival. The Hawks and Stags are scheduled for a 1 p.m. kick off at University Field.
