THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: Hartford 1, Stony Brook 0 (ot)
RECORDS: Hartford (12-4-1, 6-1-1 AE), Stony Brook (9-8-2, 6-2-0 AE)
LOCATION: LaValle Stadium (Stony Brook, N.Y.)

THE LEAD:
 
The University of Hartford women's soccer team earned a share of the America East Regular-Season title on Sunday, defeating Stony Brook in overtime behind the heroics of senior Caitlin Smallfield. With 11 seconds remaining in the first overtime session, the defender propelled the Hawks to their third-straight regular-season title, scoring on a header off a free kick.

Hartford, which shares the regular-season crown with UAlbany, also received a first-round bye in the America East Championship with the victory. The No. 2 seed in the upcoming tournament, the Hawks, who are 7-1-1 in their last nine, will host the winner of No. 3 Stony Brook/No. 6 Vermont on Sunday, Oct. 30, in the semifinals.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After a first half that saw Hartford as the more dominant side, the Seawolves picked up the pressure offensively in the second. They were held scoreless during that stretch, though, as the Hawks' back line disrupted up any threat.
• In the final 15 minutes, both teams produced opportunities out of corner kicks, but were unable to capitalize.
• Hartford picked up the pressure in the final 10 minutes and had three quality chances to net the go-ahead tally. Gallagher came up huge for the Seawolves during that stretch, stopping senior Tori Tripp's header from point-blank range in the 81st minute. Stony Brook dodged two more bullets with four and a half minutes left, as sophomore Julia Carr hit the crossbar on a strike before freshman Kaila Lozada's header off the deflection was stopped by Gallagher.
• With 11 seconds remaining in the first overtime session, Smallfield, who missed just wide of the target off a corner kick just minutes before, connected on a free kick from freshman Sierra Stone to propel Hartford to the win. Her strike hit the left post before deflecting past the Seawolves' keeper and over the goal line.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Jurg made a pair of first-half saves on point-blank Seawolves' shots off the boots of Amy Thompson (18') and Raven Edwards (36') to keep the game scoreless through halftime.
• At the break, shot attempts were even at four apiece.
• Hartford closed out the match with advantages in shots (13-7) and shots on goal (5-2). Both sides registered five corner kicks apiece.
• Smallfield's game-winner improved her season goal total to three, a career-high for the defender.
• Providing the free kick that led to the game-winner, Stone pushed her team- and conference-leading assist total to six.

NEWS & NOTES:

• The Hawks, who won the regular-season title for the third-straight year, enter the postseason for the sixth-straight season after posting the most the most wins in America East action (6) since 2012 (6-2-0).
• Hartford's 6-1-1 record in conference play is the program's best mark in the America East since 2011, when the squad also went 6-1-1.
• With 12 victories, Hartford has surpassed its win total from last season (11). In addition, the Hawks have scored the most victories since 2011 (13-2-3).
• This season marks the fifth time in six years that the Hawks have posted at least 11 wins.
• With her third-straight shutout victory, Jurg improved her career win total to 41 and her shutout total to 31. She ranks third and second, respectively, in the program's record book, while also ranking sixth in saves (209).
• Head coach John Natale picked up his 115th win at Hartford on Sunday.
• The Hawks improve to 13-2-5 against the Seawolves, who entered Sunday's match riding a six-game winning streak against America East opponents.

 
UP NEXT:
For the third-straight season, the Hawks have received a first-round bye in the upcoming America East Championship. As the No. 2 seed in the tournament, Hartford will host the winner of Thursday's quarterfinal match featuring No. 3 Stony Brook/No. 6 Vermont on Sunday, Oct. 30.