THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: Hartford 3, UMBC 1
RECORDS: Hartford (8-3-0, 2-0 AE); UMBC (4-7-0, 0-2 AE)
LOCATION: Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium (West Hartford, Conn.)
 
THE LEAD:
 
Senior striker Aaliyah Ingram scored twice on Thursday night to lead the University of Hartford women's soccer team to a 2-0 start in the America East with a 3-1 win over UMBC at Al-Marzook Field. The Hawks rallied for three unanswered scores in the contest, with Ingram netting the equalizer in the 16th minute before tacking on an insurance goal in the 72nd minute.

Freshman forward Bridgette Alexander, who finished with a career-high three points, delivered the game-winning tally in the 62nd minute while sophomore Julia Carr also racked up multiple points in the contest with a pair of assists. UMBC goalkeeper Leah Roth made a game-best eight saves for the Retrievers in the losing effort.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Despite a start that saw Hartford emerge as the attacking team, UMBC was the first to reach the scoreboard after capitalizing on a free kick in the 16th minute. Niiki Saad took the honors on the set piece, and made it a 1-0 Retrievers' lead after hitting the upper right part of the net from 22 yards out.
• The Hawks used some unselfish play to come back and tie up the match late in the 25th minute. Carr lofted a pass down to Alexander, who set up Ingram's third goal of the season by sending a cross in front of the net.
• Hartford did its damage in the second half, using a pair of scores within a10 minute stretch to put the Retrievers away. In the 62nd minute, Alexander corralled a loose ball in the box, took one dribble past a defender, and beat Roth with a low strike to the far post for the go-ahead goal. Classmate Kaila Lozada was credited with the assist on the game-winner.
• Ingram tacked on an insurance goal for the Hawks with her second tally of the game in the 72nd minute. Carr, who assisted on Hartford's game-tying marker in the first half, helped provide the cushion, sending a ball into the six-yard box which was easily headed home by Ingram to provide the two-goal lead heading down the final stretch.

  
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• For the ninth time this season, the Hawks held the upper hand in shots, holding a commanding 20-4 advantage over the Retrievers.
• Of Hartford's 20 shots, five came off the boot of Ingram. Four of her attempts were on target, with two shots reaching the back of the net.
• Hartford also held the advantage in corner kicks at 8-2.
• Between the posts, senior Jessica Jurg compiled a pair of saves, both in the second half, for her 37th career victory.

NEWS & NOTES:

• The Hawks have won their last three in commanding fashion, outscoring their opponents, 10-2, during that stretch.
• The Hawks improved to 10-5-1 all-time against UMBC, but Thursday's win ended a four-game unbeaten streak for the Retrievers, who were 3-0-1 during that stretch.
• Ingram's multi-goal game was the first for the senior this season, and the third of her career.
• Lozada improved her team-best assist total to four after setting up Alexander's game-winning tally.
• The win was the 111th for head coach John Natale, who has a .546 win percentage at Hartford.

 
UP NEXT:
America East action continues with a road trip to Durham, N.H., to face New Hampshire on Sunday, Oct. 2. Kickoff between the Hawks and the Wildcats from Bremner Field is slated for 2 p.m.