WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Junior forward Imani Jenkins is lighting up the scoresheet for the University of Hartford Women's Soccer team this season. Jenkins has tallied an NCAA Division I leading 11 goals and 23 points through the team's first eight contests, while also posting a 1.38 goals per game average for second across Division I.
 
"Imani is off to an amazing start this season," head coach John Natale said. "The coaching staff is very impressed with how she's grown as an attacking personality and turned into one of the top forwards in the region. We are looking forward to seeing her along with her teammates develop over the remainder of the season. Imani and the women's soccer program have a lot to accomplish over the next couple of months, and Imani's leadership is going to play a big role in that."
 
The Hawks' single-season goals record belongs to Danielle Korbmacher, netting 28 goals in 22 games during the 1998 season. Hartford posted a 17-5 overall record that year and the Hawks are off to another fast start this season. Registering a 6-1-1 mark for the second season in a row and third in the last four years. 
 
Jenkins, a native of Middletown, Conn., has developed into one of the top forwards in the nation. After the COVID-19 pandemic canceled her freshman season, Jenkins put on a show in her sophomore rookie campaign. She was named America East Rookie and Player of the Week on two occasions. By the end of the year, Jenkins had earned a spot on the America East All-Rookie Team. She finished the season tied for the team lead with six goals and ranked second among the Hawks with 15 points. 
 
Jenkins has exponentially grown from the success and scoring prowess she displayed in her rookie season, paving the way for her team and leading by example. This season Jenkins has already surpassed her 2021 totals, in one-third of the Hawks' games. 
 
"As a player it's great to have things starting to fall into place," Jenkins said. "I'm really starting to gain that composure in front of the goal. It's really important for the team to be able to win games, to be able to score important goals and keep the team ahead." 
 
The Hawks are coming off of an extended four-game road trip where they took three out of the four matches and most recently extended their unbeaten streak to five games in a 3-2 victory over Wesleyan.
 
"We had a really strong start, obviously, with the winning record now," said team captain Christina Stone. "It was a great confidence booster for the team and hopefully we can just keep building off of this chemistry moving forward throughout the season."
 
Longtime teammates, Stone and junior midfielder Victoria Jedrychowski have been playing alongside Jenkins since the early days of club soccer at Oakwood.
 
"It has been awesome to grow up with these two girls in Oakwood," said Jedrychowski. "I love watching them grow into the amazing players that they are today. Starting off together at Oakwood was a great foundation and I hope we continue our great work in the future."
 
Inspired to become an athlete by her father Larry Jenkins, a former men's basketball student-athlete at Hartford ('88), Imani continues to climb higher in the Hawks' record book, establishing herself among the hottest names in NCAA women's soccer.
 
Senior midfielder Ishani Sharma has made a great connection with Jenkins to this point of the season, assisting on three of her 11 goals.
 
"Imani's an amazing player and she's scored some huge goals for us this year," said Sharma. "We are always just looking to play forward through her and with her. It's a great team effort all around." 
 
The Hawks are back in action Sept. 30 and Oct. 2, when they host Chicago State in a pair of home contests. Kickoff between the Hawks and Cougars on Sept. 30 is set for 5 p.m., from Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium.