WEST HARTFORD, Conn.  - The top-seeded Hartford women's soccer team delivered a statement performance, defeating No. 2 Endicott College, 2-0 to earn the well-deserved title as 2025 Conference of New England (CNE) Champions. With the victory, the Hawks clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, capping off a dominant conference campaign in front of a packed crowd this Saturday afternoon at Al-Marzook field.

Rapid Recap:

• Hartford wasted little time establishing control on their home pitch, dominating possession and pressing the Gulls back line from the opening whistle. Their efforts paid off when junior Kathleen Brush (Wethersfield, Conn.) capitalized on a poor touch from Endicott's center back and used her foot work to slip a goal right by the keeper in just seven minutes of play. One minute later, senior Rebecca Opdenbrouw (Vernon, Conn.) nearly doubled the lead, unleashing a shot from just inside the 18-yard box that rattled off the crossbar as the Hawks continued to swarm the Gulls' defense. Endicott pushed back midway through the half, earning a pair of corners and testing Hartford keeper senior Sejal Johnson (Weddington, N.C.) who came up with several key stops to preserve their lead. Brush battled through the Gulls' defense and, while contesting a header inside the box, drew a foul in a dangerous area. The challenge set up a Hartford penalty kick in the 40th minute. It was junior Reese Sadler (Newington, Conn.) who calmly converted to extend the Hawks advantage to 2-0, carrying them into halftime.
• Endicott opened the second half with urgency, pushing the tempo and generating several early chances, including a dangerous strike from Rhiann Dugan that clanged off the left post in the 56th minute. The Gulls earned multiple set pieces near the Hawks goal but junior Mia Mangalji (Toronto, Ontario) and sophomore Caroline Tomas (Stony Point, N.Y.) cleared repeated threats inside the box to maintain their clean sheet. As time ticked down, Hartford's composure and defensive discipline sealed the result holding off the Gulls' late push to secure the 2-0 victory and for two years in a row crowned CNE champions punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Post Game Press:
"I'm beyond proud of our team," said junior Kathleen Brush (Wethersfield, Conn.). "We have worked so extremely hard for this and we are ready for the NCAA tournament."

Inside the Numbers:

• This will be Hartford's first NCAA tournament appearance since 2006.
• Brush led the Hawks in this championship with the opening goal earning her 10th goal of the season.
• Sadler also tallied a goal of her own in this match-up claiming her second goal of the 2025 season and played all of 90 minutes today.
• Johnson remained solid in net as she has all season and put up six major saves for the Hawks contributing to their clean sheet this afternoon.
• Hartford's defense stood tall, limiting Endicott to just six shots on target out of 14 attempts, consistently forcing the Gulls into mistakes under pressure.

Up Next:
With this win, Hartford earned an automatic bid into the 2025 NCAA Tournament, date and opponent are to be determined.