Box Score THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: Holy Cross 2, Hartford 1
RECORDS: Hartford (0-1); Holy Cross (1-0)
LOCATION: Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium at the Luth Athletic Complex (Worcester, Mass.)
 
THE LEAD:
 
The University of Hartford Men's Soccer team fell, 2-1, in the season opener at Holy Cross on Friday night. The Hawks struck first, taking control on a goal by freshman Bastian Stech in the 38^th minute, and led 1-0 at halftime. The Crusaders came out firing in the second half and broke through on a header by Nicholas Cestaro, which tied the game at 1-1 in the 56^th minute. The game remained tied until the 83^rd minute, when Holy Cross senior Matt Villano connected on a one-timer from Tyler Bell to secure the win for the Crusaders.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Stech netted the first goal of the 2016 season for Hartford in the 38^th minute. Stech corralled a free ball in the box and fired it low past diving Holy Cross goalkeeper Henry Stutz to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
• The Crusaders opened the second half with a flurry, eventually breaking through on a header by Cestaro in the 56^th minute. Owen Azrak and Villano both assisted on the goal as Villano took a pass from Azrak and lofted deep to the far post, where Cestaro headed it low past David MacKinnon.
• Villano's goal put the Crusaders in front for good with just minutes to play. He took the pass from Bell on the near post and slipped a low shot past the diving MacKinnon.
• Hartford's comeback bid took a hit in the 87^th minute, when freshman Alexis Triadis picked up his second red card of the game and was ejected. Down a man, the Hawks' didn't mount another attack.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Holy Cross outshot Hartford (15-11) and had the edge on corners (6-5).
• MacKinnon and Stutz each finished with three shots.
• Villano, Joseph Metzger and Arno Rupp tied with a game-high three shots apiece for Holy Cross. Udi Cohen, Kelechi Akujobi and Gael Kisombe Samuna each had two shots for the Hawks.

 
NEWS &NOTES:
 

• Stech's goal was his first of the season and the first of his career.
• Five Hawks earned their first career starts: Stech, Samuna, Triadis, Michael Balzan and Mads Friis.
• The victory was the Crusaders' first against Hartford since winning, 1-0, in 2002.
• Hartford still leads the all-time series 11-4-3.
• The setback marks Hartford's first season-opening loss since 2012.

 
UP NEXT:
The Hawks' season-opening road trip continues Monday as Hartford travels to take Maryland Monday, at 7 p.m. The Terrapins have won their past four conference championships (spanning the ACC and Big Ten) and finished the 2015 season ranked No. 10 nationally.