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Women's Soccer Downs UNH to Clinch Share of AE Regular-Season Title
DURHAM, N.H. — Behind a 2-0 victory at New Hampshire at Wildcats Stadium on Sunday, Hartford women's soccer has clinched at least a share of the America East Regular-Season Championship. Junior Kaila Lozada and senior Ashley Claud each scored in the first half to help secure the Hawks' fourth regular-season title in the past five seasons. With the win, Hartford (13-2-2) concludes its league slate with a 6-1-1 record, which is good for a first-round bye in the upcoming playoffs as either the first or second seed. New Hampshire (6-8-1), which falls to 3-4-1 with the defeat, secures the sixth seed in the postseason. HARTFORD 2, NEW HAMPSHIRE 0
Claud set up the Hawks' first goal of the afternoon in the 16th minute. Dribbling down the sideline and sending a cross into the six-yard box, Lozada crashed the net and buried a shot to give Hartford the early lead.
Hartford continued to apply pressure and put another one away in the 36th minute. Claud, who forced a turnover just outside the 18-yard box, dribbled and fired one past Wildcats' keeper Mia Neas to make it a 2-0 advantage with her team-best ninth goal of the season.
The Hawks, who held an 11-8 advantage in shots, dodged a bullet in the 76th minute, when Casey Peterson hit the crossbar for UNH. Hartford held off the Wildcats, though, to come away with the shutout win.
Sophomore goalkeeper Maia Perez registered three saves for the Hawks for her sixth shutout victory of the season. Her 13 victories are the 11th-most in a single season in program history.
HARTFORD NOTES
Hartford's 13 regular-season victories are the most since 2011, when the Hawks also won 13 games before the postseason.
The Hawks enter the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the America East, winning five of their past six matches.
Hartford finished the home portion of its America East slate undefeated with a 4-0-0 record.
NEXT ON TAP Pending on the results of Stony Brook at UMass Lowell, the Hawks can finish either first or second in the America East standings. Earning a bye in the quarterfinals, Hartford will host a semifinal match on Sunday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 860-768-HAWK or by clicking here.
