WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Hartford women's soccer team will continue its quest for a three-peat on Tuesday night taking on Gordon College in the Conference of New England (CNE) Semifinals at 5:00 PM at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium. 

No. 1 University of Hartford Hawks (11-3-1 Overall, 8-2-0 CNE)
No. 4 Gordon College Fighting Scots (9-5-3 Overall, 6-2-2 CNE)

Game Headlines:

• The Hawks host a talented Gordon College in the semifinals as Hartford looks to compete for its third-straight CNE championship. 
• Hartford holds a 5-0 record against the Scots in their history, with the last game coming back on September 12th in Wenham as the Hawks won 1-0 on a junior Sara Rieger (Waxhaw, N.C.) goal. 
• The last time these teams met in the playoffs was the 2024 CNE Championship, which Hartford won by a 6-0 margin highlighted by two goals and an assist by 2025-26 graduate Rebecca Opdenbrouw. 

Hartford Headlines:

• Hartford's offense generated 25 goals in the 10 conference games this season ranking second in the CNE. The final third will be pivotal for the Hawks as they have only generated two goals or more in three of the last seven games. Senior Kathleen Brush (Wethersfield, Conn.) will be the one to watch as the reigning CNE Tournament Most Valuable Player has totaled two goals and two assists in her four previous CNE Tournament games. Brush finished this year with eight goals and three assists and a team-leading four game-winners. Freshman Taylor Freimuth (Terryville, Conn.) led the team in total points with 21 on 10 goals and an assist, but she has only generated two goals in her last eight contests. Other forwards include freshman Olivia Fuimara (Trumbull, Conn.), Rieger and sophomore Soph Coer (Thomaston, Conn.) who have each had their moments in conference play in 2026. 
• The midfield continues to be the strength of the Hawks, led by senior Reese Sadler (Newington, Conn.). Sadler ends the regular season with three goals and three assists and has been huge from her defensive midfielder role. Junior Angela Chávez (Glastonbury, Conn.) had a breakout year for the Hawks scoring two goals while dishing five assists all in CNE play. Chávez has been in tremendous form with two goals and four assists in her last three games. Sophomore Anastasia Nerney (Glocester, R.I.) could be a crucial piece for the Hawks if they were to win a third straight CNE title. Nerney had 31 points last season, but only has two goals and six assists to her name this season. Hartford is at their best when Nerney is playing well and controlling the pace in the midfield. 
• The defense is led by freshman standout Madelyn Nunnemacher (Sutton, Mass.) who only allowed six goals in conference play in 2026. Nunnemacher has made 52 saves on the year so far and has won 11 games in her first year in net. The back-line is captained by senior Mia Mangalji (Toronto, Ontario) who has played 1327 minutes and continues to be steady in her senior season. Freshman Alyssa Koczak (Canton, Conn.) and senior Morgan Egan (East Granby, Conn.) each have excelled at the outside back positions in 2026. Koczak has dished out two assists, while Egan has a goal and an assist to her name. Junior Caroline Tomas (Stony Point, N.Y.) rounds out the back four. Tomas has started every game in her Hartford career thus far and continues to play a big role in the success of the defense. 
• Head coach John Natale will be looking to win career win 223 on Tuesday night as the reigning CNE Coach of the Year is looking to make the NCAA tournament for the second-straight year for the first time in his coaching career. 

Gordon College Highlights:

• The Fighting Scots are led by Eowyn Lapp who had a special year for Gordon College. Lapp has scored 14 goals including five game-winners so far to go with four assists for a conference-high 32 points. Eowyn led the Scots with a hat-trick on Saturday as Gordon College blanked Johnson & Wales University 4-0 in the CNE First Round. 
• As a team the Scots outscored opponents 28-27 with Lapp accounting for half of the teams goal production. Willow Forbes-Smith ranked second on the team in points with two goals and six assists, while Liana Hanley added three goals and three assists as only three Scots have more than five points so far this season. 
• Ivy Daniel will be the keeper for Gordon College making 15 starts in 2026. So far Daniel has allowed 20 goals on the year while making 71 saves. Marin Peterson and Olivia Thornton are the two top defenders for the Scots. Peterson totaled two goals and an assist, while playing a team-high 1525 minutes, while Thornton played 1491 minutes for Gordon this year. 
• Chuck Breton is the head coach of the Scots in his 13th season and last won the CNE Championship in 2021. 

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE OF NEW ENGLAND:
Originally founded in 1984 as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), and reconstituted as the Conference of New England (CNE) in 2024, the CNE is an NCAA Division III athletic conference composed of 11 full member and five associate member institutions throughout the New England region. Its membership aims to provide student-athletes with a positive experience in their pursuit of excellence through high academic standards, quality competition, and a meaningful student life. The Conference administers championships in 21 intercollegiate sports.

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