WEST HARTFORD, Conn.  –  After an historic 2024 season, the University of Hartford women's soccer team is back in 2025 with an eye on making the NCAA Tournament.

In 2024, the Hartford women's soccer program finished the season 16-3-2 and 7-1-1 in Conference of New England (CNE) play. The Hawks would earn the CNE Regular-Season Title, and after defeating Gordon College 6-0 on November 9th they would also claim the CNE Championship. Hartford, who was unable to head to the NCAA Tournament, hosted the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament next defeating New Jersey City University and Springfield College to win its second-consecutive ECAC championship. In postseason play the Hawks outscored opponents 19-0 over the four contests winning both championships.

A NEW LOOK
The women's soccer program will look vastly different in 2025 as five key pieces in Imani Jenkins, Christina Stone, May Cervone, Juliana Chiarella and Lindsey Metcalfe all depart the program. The five students leaving the program combined for 101 starts, 43 goals, 48 assists, 12 game-winning goals and 8,240 minutes on the field in 2024.
The Hawks top offensive returner is junior Kathleen Brush (Wethersfield, Conn.) who was recently named a team captain ahead of the season. Brush scored 13 goals in 2025 to go with eight assists with a lone game-winner. Brush will be paired with senior Rebecca Opdenbrouw (Vernon, Conn.) who produced 18 points for the second-consecutive season in 2024. On the defensive side, senior Sejal Johnson (Weddington, N.C.) will return as the top keeper for Hartford after securing nine shutouts in 2024 with a goals against average of 0.58.

"Coming into this season as a junior, I've learned from the past two years that the standard here is winning", said Brush. "We need to continue the reality of what this program is which is winning at a high level. In practice we really have been pushing each other to get better and we are working towards the same goal which is to win."

Senior captain Andrea Buzas (Wethersfield, Conn.) will also play a huge role for the backline after starting 14 games in 2024 including ever playoff game.

"Our team expectations for this year is that everyone shows up, we play for each other and at the end of the season we win", said Buzas. "This year is important to me and a lot of the seniors as this year we are finally eligible for an NCAA tournament and that is like the biggest thing we want to achieve this year. We won in the past, but that would be a whole new level, and it is what we strive for every single day."

Senior captain Mayson Massaro (Sarasota, Fla.) will also play an important piece for the Hawks in the midfield. In 2024 Massaro battled injuries in the later portion of the year ending with 934 minutes, but if Hartford wants to be at their best they will need Mayson on the pitch.

"The standard here is winning", said Massaro. "We have great team leadership, so I believe we have the ability to continue the standard this season. We know that success is not guaranteed, and we know winning last season puts a target on our backs, so we just have to continue to raise our standards to keep that level of winning."

FIGHTING FOR MINUTES
The Hawks will be bringing in eight newcomers in 2025, with plenty of minutes up for grabs. The class is headlined by sophomore Caroline Tomas (Stony Point, N.Y.) who comes to the University of Hartford after spending a single season at the University at Albany. Tomas would make three starts in her freshman season with 355 total minutes.

FULL INCOMING CLASS
Forwards (2): Caitlyn Kanter (Phoenix, Ariz.), Sophia Coer (Thomaston, Conn.)
Midfielders (3): Anastasia Nerney (Glocester, R.I.), Claudia Skoczylas (Suffield, Conn.), Casey Macaruso (Worcester, Mass.)
Defenders (3): Natalie Dumas (Enfield, Conn.), Caroline Tomas (Stony Point, N.Y. / University at Albany), Gia Richetti (Holbrook, N.Y.)

SEASON OUTLOOK
The Hawks have 17 regular season games on the schedule in 2025, with eight taking place at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium. Hartford opens the season with a three-game road stand, starting at Clarkson University on August 29^th in the season opener. The Hawks will host their first game on September 9^th when they take on inner-state foe Eastern Connecticut State University at 6:00 PM.

The Conference of New England season starts on September 13^th when Hartford will host Suffolk University at 2:00 PM. Other key conference games include September 27^th at Endicott College, October 4^th versus Gordon College in a CNE Championship rematch on Hawktober Weekend and October 14^th against new CNE member Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I.

All home games will be live streamed on the CNE Network powered by HUDL, while other game coverage can be found on the schedule home page.

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