THE BASICS:

RESULT: Hartford 1, Sacred Heart 0 (ot)
RECORDS: Hartford (3-1-0), Sacred Heart (2-3-0)
LOCATION: Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium (West Hartford, Conn.)
THE LEAD: Freshman Julia Carr netted the golden goal in the 94th minute as the University of Hartford women's soccer team opened up a four-game homestand with a 1-0 victory over instate rival Sacred Heart at Al-Marzook Field on Sunday. Senior Elise Galipo provided the assist on the overtime game-winner, as she slipped a pass through the box for Carr, who put the finishing touches on the ball from 10 yards out. Finishing with four saves, a season-best, junior goalkeeper Jessica Jurg recorded her second-straight shutout.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

·         Sacred Heart held the advantage offensively in the opening half, as it outshot the Hawks, 7-5, during that stretch. The Hawks did post some scoring threats early on, as junior Aaliyah Ingram rifled a shot on target just 95 seconds out of the opening whistle. Talia Schwartz was in place to make the stop for the Pioneers.

·         Junior goalkeeper Jessica Jurg was tested often in the first half, but she was down for the challenge as she stopped all four Sacred Heart shots on goal during that stretch. The Pioneers' first scoring opportunity was produced by Alex Mesropyan in the 11th minute, but her long shot was snagged by Jurg. Two minutes later, Marissa Christy forced Jurg back into action, as she sent a low shot towards the far post.

·         The Hawks' best scoring opportunity of the first half came from Ingram, as she got her head on an inbound pass and missed just wide of the far post with 14:30 left in the half.

·         It was a tale of two halves for Hartford, though, as momentum shifted in favor of the Hawks out of the intermission. Hartford manufactured several scoring opportunities before netting the overtime game-winner, the first of which came from junior striker Tori Tripp. Receiving a pass in-stride from Ingram, Tripp footed the ball just over the goal post less than five minutes into the second.

·         The Pioneers dodged two more bullets later in the half. In the 60th minute, Erica Primovic's blast from 28 yards away hit the crossbar. Tracking down the rebound inside of the box was Ingram, who got her head under the ball and sent a high shot towards the goal from eight yards away. Schwartz was able to make the jumping save, keeping the match scoreless.

·         After missing just wide left on a rocket from inside of the 18-yard box in the 88th minute, freshman Julia Carr hit her stride on her second attempt, which came 3:38 into overtime. Taking a pass from senior Elise Galipo, Carr finished from 10-yards out in the 94th minute to lift the Hawks to their second-straight win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

·         After a first half that saw Sacred Heart hold the advantage on the attacking side with a 7-5 edge, Hartford dominated the second half and outshot the Pioneers, 9-2, in the final 45 minutes

·         Finishing with a 15-6 shot advantage over Sacred Heart, Hartford also held a 6-2 edge in corner kicks

·         Junior Jessica Jurg made four saves, all in the first half, to help the Hawks earn their second-straight shutout victory

·         Freshman Julia Carr connected on her second shot of the game 3:38 into overtime to lead the Hawks to the victory; it was the lone attempt of the overtime period

·         Junior forward Aaliyah Ingram led the Hawks' offense with eight shot attempts; two of those shots were marked on goal

·         For Sacred Heart, Talia Schwartz made three saves, including two in the second-half

NEWS & NOTES:

·         Freshman Julia Carr netted her third goal of the season; the striker has scored one goal in three of the Hawks' four contests this season

·         Hartford has won its last two matches, both of which have been shutout victories

·         Junior goalkeeper Jessica Jurg stopped a season-best four shots for Hartford, as she improves to 3-1-0 with her second shutout victory

·         The Hawks improve to 3-1-0 in the all-time series with Sacred Heart

UP NEXT:
The homestand continues for Hartford as it welcomes NJIT to Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 10. Last season, the Hawks topped the Highlanders, 1-0, in the inaugural meeting between the two squads in Newark, N.J. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.