Box Score Hawks Battle In 2-0 Loss To No. 9 Syracuse
 
THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: No. 9 Syracuse 2, Hartford 0
RECORDS: Hartford (5-7-3, 1-1-2 America East); Syracuse (10-3-1, 3-2-1 ACC)
LOCATION: Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium (West Hartford, Conn.)
 
THE LEAD:
 
The University of Hartford men's soccer team (5-7-3, 1-1-2 America East) fell, 2-0, to No. 9 Syracuse in front of an Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium record-crowd of 1,592 on Tuesday night. The Hawks withstood Syracuse's attack for most of the first half, but the Orange (10-3-1, 3-2-1 ACC) broke through in the 42^nd minutes on a goal by John-Austin Ricks. Mo Adams scored from 30 yards out in the 55^th minute to give Syracuse its final tally.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Freshman John-Austin Ricks broke the deadlock in the 42^nd minute, off a Syracuse throw-in. The Hawks failed to clear the ball and Ricks headed it past a diving Jimmy Slayton.
• Fellow freshman Mo Adams made it 2-0 in favor of the Orange in the 55^th minute, netting his first career goal on a laser from 25 yards out.

 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• The Orange held the advantage in shots (12-1) and corner kicks (10-0).
• Syracuse goalie Hendrik Hilpert did not record a save in the shutout victory. Slayton logged three saves for the Hawks.
• Hartford's crowd broke the previous attendance record of 1,504, set against Central Connecticut, in 2012.

 
 
NEWS & NOTES:
 

• Hartford's defense was stellar, particularly early on, in the face of constant pressure from the Orange. Syracuse controlled possession for the majority of the first half, firing seven shots.
• Defender Andre Morrison and midfielder Gael Kisombe continued their streak of starting every game for the Hawks. Morrison, who played a complete game for the 13^th time this season, leads the team with 1,392 minutes played (out of 1,417). Freshman defender Mads Friis (1,237 minutes) made his 14^th start in 14 appearances, and played his 12^th complete game.
• Both Syracuse goals were scored by freshmen. Both goals were the first of their careers.
• Syracuse is the first ranked team to play in West Hartford since No. 16 Boston University, in 2009.
• Syracuse improved to 1-0-1 in the all-time series.

 
 
UP NEXT:
The Hawks will return to America East Conference play when they travel to take on UMBC on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. The Retrievers (4-6-3, 0-4-0) have won five of the past six meetings against Hartford, but are riding a five-game losing streak this season. The Hawks can clinch a berth in the America East postseason with a victory.