Seniors
Steve McLaughlin
2
Winner UNH UNH (12-5-0 (4-2-0 AE))
1
Hartford HARTFORD (7-8-3 (2-2-2 AE))
Winner
UNH UNH
(12-5-0 (4-2-0 AE))
2
Final
1
Hartford HARTFORD
(7-8-3 (2-2-2 AE))
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UNH UNH 1 1 2
Hartford HARTFORD 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Hartford Athletics Communications

Wildcats Escape With 2-1 Victory On Senior Night

 THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: New Hampshire 2, Hartford 1
RECORDS: Hartford (7-8-3, 2-2-2 America East), New Hampshire (12-5-0, 4-2-0 AE)
LOCATION: Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium (West Hartford, Conn.)

THE LEAD:
 
New Hampshire sophomore Chris Arling netted his conference-leading 13th and 14th goals and the Wildcats (12-5-0, 4-2-0 America East) fought off a furious Hartford comeback bid, escaping with a 2-1 victory on Saturday night. Hawks freshman Kelechi Akujobi scored his first career goal in the 67th minute, but UNH's defense helped lock it down the rest of the way, denying a number of opportunities down the stretch.
 
The Hawks (7-8-3, 2-2-2 AE) were celebrating Senior Night, as Jeff Tryon, Udi Cohen, Quenton Swift, David MacKinnon and Scott McKirgan participated in their final regular season home game on Al-Marzook Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • Arling put the pressure on early, netting the game's first goal in the third minute, capitalizing on a rare defensive breakdown and finishing an assist from Kristian Piippo.
  • Arling extended the Wildcats' lead to 2-0 in the 47th minute, corralling a pass from Chris Wingate and firing it past Hartford goalkeeper Jimmy Slayton from 10 yards out.
  • Akujobi scored at 66:36, finishing a leaping header on a cross by Swift. It was Akujobi's first career goal and Swift's second assist this season.
  • The Hawks ramped up the pressure late in the second half but couldn't break through again, dropping just their second America East match of the season.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
  • Hartford led in shots (10-9), corner kicks (7-3) and saves (3-2). New Hampshire had fewer fouls (12-14) and yellow cards (1-2).
  • Akujobi, a defender, had only put two shots on goal this season before breaking through against UNH. He now has three points on the year, ranking seventh on the team.
  • Akujobi and Cohen led Hartford with two shots apiece. Arling fired a game-high five shots, with three on net.

NEWS & NOTES:
  • The Hawks (eight points) now sit in fifth place in the conference standings among playoff-eligible teams, behind UNH (12), Albany (10), Stony Brook (10) and Vermont (nine) and ahead of Binghamton (six). The Catamounts defeated UMBC, 3-0, Saturday night, while UMass Lowell knocked off Albany, 1-0, and Stony Brook drew with the Bearcats. UMass Lowell, which leads the America East with 13 points, is not eligible for postseason play.
  • Vermont's victory eliminated UMBC from playoff contention.
  • Kisombe and junior defender Andre Morrison each made their 18th  start in 18 appearances this season.
  • Morrison played his 18th complete game and leads the team with 1,680 minutes (out of 1,705). Kisombe (1,584) and freshman defender Mads Friis (1,525) are close behind, while none of the Hawks other field players has topped 1,365.
 
UP NEXT:
Hartford will travel to UMass Lowell (12-1-2, 4-1-1 AE) on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. The River Hawks (13 points) have already clinched at least a share of the America East regular season championship but, due to NCAA rules, the school cannot compete in the playoffs as a result of the River Hawks' move up to Division I, in 2013. UMass Lowell, which ranked No. 19 in the latest NCAA poll, will be eligible for postseason play in 2017.
 
With a win, the Hawks would still have a chance to host a quarterfinal game on Saturday, Nov. 5. A loss or a draw against the River Hawks would ensure that Hartford is on the road in the opening round.
 
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