WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Hartford men's soccer team came away with three crucial points in the America East playoff race, knocking off Binghamton, 2-1, on Al-Marzook Field on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks got early goals from
Nir Gvili and
Addrian Knights-Browne to take a 2-0 lead into halftime and held off a late Bearcats charge to secure the win.
Â
With the victory, Hartford (4-8-3, 2-4-0 AE) now has six points in the America East standings, currently tied for fifth place with the Bearcats (7-5-1, 2-3-0 AE) and UMBC. The Hawks' victory broke a seventh-place tie with NJIT and UMass Lowell. NJIT is playing out of conference this weekend, while the River Hawks will visit Stony Brook on Sunday (Oct. 17) at 2 p.m. UMBC, which entered the weekend tied for fifth place with six points in the standings will visit UAlbany Sunday.
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
Gvili took a high-arching entry pass from
Nate Becher in the 22nd-minute, gaining possession in front of the net and redirecting it high over the outstretched arms of Binghamton goalkeeper Mats Roorda to make it 1-0.
Â
Eight minutes later, Knights-Browne received a pass from
Patrick Gryczewski at the top of the box, and blasting a low line drive past Roorda to give the Hawks a 2-0 edge going into halftime. With Binghamton pressing late in the second half, the Bearcats' Noah Luescher scored on a free kick, which took an awkward bounce past Hartford keeper
Rotem Fadida. Luescher's goal cut the Hawks' advantage to 2-1, but Binghamton wouldn't get any closer.
Â
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES
- Knights-Browne's goal was his team-leading fourth of the season
- Gvili's tally was the first of his career
- Becher's assist was his first career point with the Hawks
- With two assists on the season, Gryczewski trails only Tomer Drimmer (3) for the team lead
- Fadida finished with 5 saves
- The Bearcats led 12-11 in shots
- Hartford led 9-7 in corners
- Three of the Hawks' four victories have come at home
Â
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks have two games remaining, both coming against teams fighting to qualify for the America East postseason. Hartford will enjoy a midweek bye, before traveling to face UMass Lowell (2-9-1, 1-3-0 AE) on Saturday, Oct. 23 and closing the regular season at home against NJIT (3-8-1, 1-4-0) on Monday, Nov. 1.
Â
Â