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THE BASICS:
RESULT: Hartford 4, Siena 1
RECORDS: Hartford (1-0-0), Siena (0-1-1)
LOCATION: Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium (West Hartford, Conn.)
THE LEAD: Junior Aaliyah Ingram came off the bench to score twice, and freshman Julia Carr and senior Erica Primovic each added goals as the University of Hartford women's soccer team began its 2015 season with a 4-1 oust of Siena on Sunday afternoon. Leading 2-0 at the half after scoring twice in the final 12 minutes of the first, the Hawks held a commanding four-goal advantage late in the match until the Saints reached the scoreboard with 74 seconds left. Ingram provided the game-winning tally in the 44th minute and followed suit with Hartford's third goal – an insurance tally in the 77th minute.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

·         The Hawks were the dominant team in the opening half, as they controlled the ball in their attacking third and held a commanding 8-1 edge in shots during the first 45 minutes. Hartford went on to produce the first five shots of the afternoon and held Siena without an attempt for the first 36-plus minutes of action.

·         Hartford's first three looks were quality attempts as freshman Julia Carr and senior Sidney Spremullo each missed high of the target in the ninth and 12th minute before veteran Elise Galipo's hard strike was pushed aside by Saints' keeper Liz Rogan.

·         In the 34th minute, Carr converted on her second attempt of the afternoon and broke open the scoreless tie after sailing a long blast from more than 30-yards out over the head of Rogan.

·         Nearly 10 minutes later, junior Aaliyah Ingram doubled the Hawks' lead and made it 2-0 right before the halftime break with a strike from inside of the six-yard box.

·         Ingram went on to provide the insurance tally in the 77th minute, recording her first career multi-goal match in the process. Assisting on the marker was sophomore Melina Spanos, who sent a perfect cross into the six-yard box to Ingram, who was set up on the left side.

·         Hartford took its largest lead of the game on a set play in the 88th minute, with Carr providing the assist on a corner kick for her third point of the match. Carr booted a long ball into the box, and senior Erica Primovic was in perfect place to head home the Hawks' fourth and final marker of the afternoon.

·         Tara Sobierajski crossed a pass to the left to Kirby O'Keefe in the 89th minute to put Siena on the scoreboard for the first time all afternoon.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

·         Hartford dominated in nearly every statistical category on Sunday afternoon against the Saints

·         Overall, the Hawks held a 15-5 advantage in shots, including a commanding 8-1 edge in the opening 45 minutes

·         Of those 15 Hartford shots, all but five were marked on target

·         The Hawks' back line held the Saints to just two shots on goal

·         Junior goalkeeper Jessica Jurg was tested two times, and made one save in her first contest of the season

·         The Hawks also held a 6-2 advantage over the Saints in corner kicks

·         Liz Rogan, Siena's keeper, made six total saves on the afternoon, including four in the second half 

NEWS AND NOTES: 

·         Hartford has scored wins in each of its last three season openers with Sunday's defeat of Siena. Furthermore, the Hawks have gone unbeaten in their last five season debuts, going 3-0-2 since 2011.

·         With Sunday's win, Hartford broke open a deadlocked series and took a 3-2-1 edge all-time against Siena.

·         Scoring once in the first half and providing an insurance tally in the second, Ingram recorded her first-ever multi-goal outing.

·         The two goals netted by Ingram are the most scored in one game by a Hawk since Sidney Spremullo netted a hat trick against UMass Lowell on October 2, 2014.

·         The Hawks' three-goal defeat of Siena marks the program's largest of victory since they posted a 5-1 win over UMass Lowell last season (Oct. 2, 2014).

·         Julia Carr became the first Hartford rookie to net a goal in her debut since Elise Galipo accomplished the feat back in 2012 to help the Hawks to a 1-1 draw against Fairleigh Dickinson. Adding an assist, her three points are the most produced by a Hawk rookie on opening day under head coach John Natale. 

UP NEXT:.
Hartford will face Manhattan College, another opponent from the MAAC, on Sunday, August 30 at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium. Opening kickoff between the Hawks and Jaspers is scheduled for 2 p.m.