WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Hartford men's soccer team clinched its third-straight Conference of New England (CNE) playoff berth on Saturday defeating Johnson & Wales University by a 1-0 final.
Rapid Recap:
- Things would start slowly between the Hawks and Wildcats as neither team would manage a shot until JWU took one in the 22nd minute. Hartford would get a pair off in the 25th and 26th minute, but neither would find the net. In the 34th minute, the Hawks would turn defense into attack in an instant, and junior Jared Noble (Nesconset, N.Y) would curl a beauty into the top corner to put Hartford in front. The Wildcats would get a free kick in the final minute of the half, but the Hawks would stand strong and hold on to the 1-0 going into halftime.
- The start of the second half would see the Hawks get their first corner of the day in the 55th minute, although they would fail to get a shot off. 60 seconds later the Wildcats would get their first chance of the half on a cross that was headed by Bruno Texeira would get stopped by junior goalkeeper Christian Vitti (Stamford, Conn.). Chaos would ensue in the 70th minute where the Wildcats would get five consecutive corners and take six shots. Vitti would stop three of the shots, and one of them would doink off the crossbar directly from the corner. After the last corner freshman Rory Ohalloran (Stamford, Conn.) would be in on goal for a huge chance but he would fail to finish. The Wildcats would get a pair of chances in the 75th and 79th minute, but both shots would go off target. In the 89th minute, the Wildcats had one more chance to try and equal the score, but the shot attempt was blocked, and Hartford got the ball away, and they would walk away victorious, 1-0.
Post Game Press:
"It feels great to get the win at home", said junior
Jared Noble (Nesconset, N.Y.). "We had a rough couple of weeks, winning two in a row feels amazing."
Inside Numbers:
- Noble tallied his third goal of the season, bringing him second on the team, scoring his second goal from outside the box.
- Vitti made five crucial saves in the win.
- The Hawks were outshot 11-8. JWU had the advantage in corners with 10 to the Hartford two.
- The Hawks had 15 fouls for the Wildcats three.
Up Next:
The Hawks travel to Springfield Mass. for the regular season finale and a playoff rematch from last season with the Western New England Golden Bears on Wednesday, October 28th at 3:30 P.M. A win for Hartford would clinch the Hawks for a home playoff game.
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