NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Junior forward
Imani Jenkins netted a pair of goals for the third time of the season, propelling the Hartford women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Merrimack on Thursday evening. The Hawks improve to 3-1-0 on the season, while the Warriors fall to 1-3-1.
HARTFORD 2, MERRIMACK 1
Jenkins got the offense going early for Hartford, scoring the first goal of the game in the ninth minute off of a turnover made by Merrimack goalkeeper Claire DeFlora.
Makaela Montgomery-Williams nearly doubled the lead two minutes later, attempting to wrap around her defender and missing just wide left of the goal. Hawks netminder
Abigail McCarthy was able to hold the Warriors off the board in the first half, tallying one save on five shot attempts.
Entering the second half leading 1-0, Jenkins would once again provide a sense of breathing room for the Hartford defense, scoring an unassisted goal in the 51st minute. In the 67th minute,
May Cervone made a valiant attempt rushing down the right side of the pitch and glancing a shot off the cross bar, nearly extending the Hartford lead to three goals. The Hawks backline was put to the test in the second half, facing 14 shot attempts in the period and stopping all but one that found the back of the net in the 80th minute off the foot of Ella Cormier. Despite the late push from the Merrimack offense, Hartford would walk away victorious by a final score of 2-1.
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES
- Jenkins scored twice for the third time of the season and fifth time of her career
- McCarthy earned the win in net, allowing one goal while making four saves on 19 shots faced
- Merrimack held a 19-12 advantage in shot attempts over Hartford
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford is back in action Sunday for a weekend road contest at Siena. Kickoff between the Hawks and Saints is slated for 3 p.m. from Siena Field.
