THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: New Hampshire 2, Hartford 1
RECORDS: Hartford (7-7-2, 3-2-1 AE); UNH (11-4, 5-1 AE)
LOCATION: Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium (West Hartford, Conn.)
 
THE LEAD:
 
The University of Hartford women's soccer team came up short to first-place New Hampshire on Thursday, falling 2-1 on Al-Marzook Field. The Hawks pulled within one on a late strike from freshman Magalie Kayrouz after facing a two-goal deficit at the half, but they were unable to complete the comeback.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Hawks had a number of opportunities early in the first half, but they were unable to convert. After producing a pair of looks in the second minute of action, sophomore Sierra Stone came inches away from putting Hartford on the board, blasting one off of the crossbar from on top of the box.
• UNH, which also had its early chances as Francesca Picicci hit the post from point-blank range in the 12th minute before Gaby Dorsey missed just high on the rebound, reached the back of the net for the first time in the 22nd minute. Brooke Murphy put the Wildcats in front, scoring off the bounce on a centering pass from just inside the 18-yard box. 
• Three and a half minutes later, the Wildcats doubled their advantage when Dorsey lofted a header from outside the six-yard box into the upper part of the net.
• The Hawks came out of the halftime break firing. Outshooting the Wildcats 13-3 during that stretch, Hartford again came inches short of cutting its deficit in half, as the crossbar received more action on a long blast from redshirt-sophomore Molly Socha.
• Down the final stretch, the Hawks managed to pull within one, scoring on a corner kick scrum at the 86:24 mark. Stone served in the ball on the restart, allowing Kayrouz to head home Hartford's first score of the match.
• Hartford maintained possession in the closing minutes, but the Hawks came just shy of pulling off the comeback as sophomore Karoline Petersen's look at the potential equalizer missed just high of the mark in the 88th minute.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS & NOTES:

• The Hawks attempted 21 shots in the match, but put just four on frame. UNH recorded four of its 12 shots on goal.
• Mia Neas registered three saves for the Wildcats, while Perez recorded a pair for the Hawks.
• Despite the setback, Hartford holds a 22-13-2 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to 1984.

 
UP NEXT:
The Hawks conclude the home portion of their 2017 regular-season slate on Sunday, hosting Vermont on ESPN3. Prior to the 2 p.m. start, Hartford will honor Brenna Kelley and Melina Spanos, a pair of four-year Hawks who have been four-year members of the women's soccer team.