Hartford soars in tournament

Originally Posted on The Hartford Informer via UWIRE

 

 Natasha Douglas leads the Hawks with two goals and five points this season. Charlie Kahn | The Informer

Natasha Douglas leads the Hawks with two goals and five points this season. Charlie Kahn | The Informer

 

The women’s soccer team headed south this past weekend for the Fairfield Stag tournament where they faced the Holy Cross Crusaders and the American Eagles.

In the first matchup, the Hawks would look to repeat what they did last year against the Crusaders, by winning 4-0. However, it was a much closer game this time around.

Once again, freshman goalkeeper had a very proficient outing with five saves over a course of 110 minutes in a 0-0 tie.

Her five saves were a career high for her and she was also given her second straight shutout of the season.

One of Hartford’s best chances to get the go ahead goal was in the second minute of play, as sophomore Sydney Aldrich sent in a corner that connected with the head of freshman Caitlin Smallfield but was blocked by the Crusader defense.

Senior Natasha Douglas then found the ball and shot the ball toward the net, but was about five yards to wide.

Shortly after, junior Chanel Johnson forced Holy Cross keeper, Carly McCabe, to make her first save of the match.

McCabe was also tested as she saved a pair of shots in the 22 and 29 minutes of play from Hartford’s Emma Donnely and another from Johnson.

With 15 minutes left to play in the second half, McCabe made another play off Johnson’s that was headed for the corner of the goal.

McCabe then stopped the following corner kick when Smallfield attempted another header.

In overtime, senior Arielle Aikens gave the Hawks their only shot in the first 10 minutes, which McCabe would stop and also pick up her fourth save of the game.

In the second game, Jurg would once again pick up another shutout, making it her third straight, as the Hawks would go on to beat American with a final of 1-0.

Jurg, along with Amanda Hamilton and Johnson were part of the All-Tournament team, due to her two solid performances.

The freshman keeper collected four saves with sophomore Elise Galipo scoring the lone goal in the seventh minute of the match.

Galipo would send the ball to Johnson who in return fed her the ball to the top corner of the box as she placed it past the Eagle keeper, Charlene Balanger, at the far post.

Three minutes later the Hawks, fired out back to back shots in just eleven seconds, the first being blocked by an American defender and the second soaring wide of the goal.

American and Hartford both came out kicking, with the Eagles getting a pair of shots in the first 34 seconds, as Jurg collected her first save on the second.

The second half was not very different for the Hawks, as they came out once again, taking a shot in the first 28 seconds from Johnson, as Belanger made another save.

Johnson set a career high in shots, with 11, as the team made a total of 16 shots, with Belanger making six saves.

The Hawks will play hosts to the Blue Devils from Central Connecticut this Sunday at 2 p.m.

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