THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: Hartford 1, Vermont 0
RECORDS: Hartford (11-4-1, 5-1-1 AE); Vermont (6-4-3, 1-2-2 AE)
LOCATION: Virtue Field (Burlington, Vt.)

THE LEAD:

The University of Hartford women's soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to four games on Thursday night, knocking off Vermont, 1-0, at Virtue Field. Sophomore Julia Carr netted the game-winner in the 74th minute while senior Jessica Jurg collected four saves in goal to lead the Hawks to their second-straight shutout victory in America East action.

With one match remaining in the 2016 season, the Hawks, who have won regular-season titles in back-to-back seasons, are still in the hunt for their third straight. Hartford is currently tied for second-place with UAlbany with 16 points, trailing top-ranked Stony Brook (18 points). The Hawks face the Seawolves on Sunday needing a win to clinch the America East Regular-Season title and a bye in the first round of the America East Championship.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A takeaway out of a Vermont throw-in led to the Hawks' go-ahead tally in the 74th minute. Sophomore midfielder Hayley Nolan, who took control out of the scrum, dribbled 15 yards ahead and fed Carr, who lofted a shot from on top of the 18-yard box over the outstretched arms of Coco Speckmaier. The Catamounts' keeper recorded saves on five Hartford shots before conceding the eventual game-winner.
• With three minutes remaining, Hartford came up just short of tacking on an insurance tally. Out of a corner kick, sophomore Ashley Claud sent a header off a feed from senior Aaliyah Ingram just high of the crossbar.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• The Hawks attempted 12 shots to Vermont's nine, putting six of their opportunities on target.
• Carr connected on her team-leading sixth goal of the year to improve her point total to 16, a team high.
• Hartford's defense, which has conceded just two goals in its last four outings, picked up its America East-leading seventh shutout in Thursday's win.
• Both sides finished with two corner kicks apiece.
• Freshman Bridgette Alexander led the charge for the Hawks with three shots, two of which were marked on target.

NEWS & NOTES:

• Prior to the match, the Hawks already clinched one of six spots in the upcoming America East Championship. They will be playing for a first-round bye in Sunday's regular-season finale.
• The Hawks' current four-game (3-0-1) unbeaten streak matches a season-best rally.
• Hartford's 11 victories match the Hawks' win total from last season. This season marks the fifth time in six years that the Hawks have posted at least 11 wins.
• The Hawks' five wins in America East action also surpasses last year's total (4).
• With her second-straight shutout victory, Jurg improved her career win total to 40 and her shutout total to 30. She ranks third and second, respectively, in the program's record book.
• Jurg also vaulted into sixth-place in saves (207) in the program's record books after registering four against the Catamounts.
• Head coach John Natale picked up his 114th win at Hartford on Thursday.
• Against Vermont, Hartford is unbeaten in the last six games of the series (5-0-1) while its 26 wins are the most the Hawks have collected against any other opponent since the program transitioned to Division I in 1984.

 
UP NEXT:
Hartford's regular-season finale lands the Hawks on Long Island for a Sunday matinee at Stony Brook. The Hawks and Seawolves are slated for a 1 p.m. kickoff from LaValle Stadium. In 19 previous meetings, Hartford has lost just twice to the Seawolves, holding a 12-2-5 advantage in the series.