WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior forward Chanel Johnson scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season in the 74th minute to lead the University of Hartford women's soccer team to a 1-0 shutout of the Albany Great Danes in the America East opener on Sunday at Alumni Stadium. Hartford improves to 5-2-3 overall in 2014.

For the fourth-straight goal, Johnson paired with junior midfielder Sidney Spremullo to provide the Hawks offense. Spremullo provided a forward pass that Johnson tracked down. After dribbling a few yards forward, Johnson fired a shot from left to right about 25 yards out beating the Great Danes keeper to the upper left side.

Hartford finished the game with a 14-6 shot advantage, the ninth time in the first 10 games the Hawks have outshot their opponent. Overall, Hartford placed six of their shots on goal, forcing Albany's Alana Brennan to make five saves, four of which came in the final 45 minutes.

Hawks keeper Jessica Jurg collected her first shutout of the season between the pipes, Hartford's fifth overall. The sophomore finished with three saves, stopping each of the Great Danes shots on target.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

·        Senior Chanel Johnson scored the lone goal of the contest in the 74th minute to lead Hartford to a 1-0 shutout of the Great Danes in the 2014 league opener.

·       Johnson connected with junior midfielder Sidney Spremullo for the fourth-straight goal the pair has come together to score. Spremullo provided a pass through the midfield that Johnson tracked down and after dribbling ahead and clearing the defense, fired a shot from 25 yards out from right to left that beat the Great Danes keeper to the upper left corner.

·       Hartford finished the game with six shots on goal, the last of which resulted in the game-winning tally, Johnson's fourth game-deciding goal of the year. Entering Sunday, Johnson was 11th in the nation in game-winning goals.

·       The Great Danes provided the first shot on goal of the afternoon, that coming in the fourth minute on a weak attempt from Kiana Rugar with Hawks keeper Jessica Jurg collecting her first of two saves in the opening half.

·       Hartford's first attempt at scoring came in the eighth minute thanks to some fancy footwork from Johnson as she battled a pair of defenders just outside the 18-yard box. She punched a hard shot from right to left with the Great Danes keeper making the basket save.

·       Coming out of the intermission, Hartford provided the first scoring opportunities, both within the first seven minutes of the half and both from Johnson. Her first came less than three minutes in as she took a pass from Spremullo and challenged Albany's keeper as she came out to face the play. Johnson's shot came with the keeper just feet away as she made a kick save, forcing the corner kick reset. In the 52nd minute Johnson fired another crossing shot that needed a slap save from Brennan to protect the scoreless battle.
 

GOALS RUNDOWN 

·        Senior Chanel Johnson extended her team-lead in goals to eight when she connected with junior midfielder Sidney Spremullo in the 74th minute. Spremullo provided a pass through the midfield almost exactly centered between the two sidelines. Johnson tracked down the pass battling a pair of defenders. After dribbling forward a few yards and clearing her defense, she fired a shot from a few yards outside the 18-yard box that beat the Great Danes keeper over her left side to the corner.
 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

·       The Hawks finished their ninth game, of 10, this season outshooting their opponent. Hartford finished with a 14-6 advantage overall, with six of those shots marked on goal.

·       Junior midfielder Sidney Spremullo recorded her team-leading fourth assist of the season when she provided a forward pass to Chanel Johnson in the 74th minute.

·        Johnson added to her team-high goals tally with her eight of the season, while she has now scored the game-winner in four of the five Hartford victories. Prior to this weekend, Johnson's three game-winners were the 11th most in the nation.   

·        In 15 total match-ups between Hartford and Albany, the Hawks have posted 10 shutouts. In addition, this is the second-straight season Hartford has defeated the Great Danes to win the conference opener.
 

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less) 

·        Junior Sidney Spremullo and senior Chanel Johnson combined for the fourth-straight time to score the Hawks only goal against Albany.

·        Spremullo's assist is the Hawks team-leading fourth of the season, while Johnson's goal is the team-best eighth.

·        Hartford has now won its last four conference openers, while going unbeaten in the last six.
 

UP NEXT
The Hawks continue a four-game homestand on Friday, October 2 when they welcome the UMass Lowell River Hawks to Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium. The conference battle is set for a 6 p.m. opening kickoff.