By David F. Pendrys [Official Box Score from Hartford Athletics]

WEST HARTFORD, CT – It was a defensive showcase for over 100 minutes Sunday afternoon, but the Stony Brook Seawolves finally found a way to score against the stringent University of Hartford Hawks women’s soccer team in double overtime.

Alyssa Francese got to a ball after a teammate sent it across the goal area and she sent it into the back of the net with a well placed strike.

Each team had managed a similar number of shots, as Stony Brook launched 17, though 6 went on net. Hartford unleashed 16, but only 3 went on net. SBU’s Sofia Manner naturally made 3 saves for the shutout, and Maia Perez of Hartford made 5 as she was challenged more often throughout the day. This included her having to leap high to snatch a corner kick amidst the crowd of players.

Defense was still the story of the game as Hartford was held to their 3 shots on net by a tough Seawolves defense. They kept the dangerous Kaila Lozada, Gabriela Gamory, Sierra Stone, and Julia Carr from getting too many looks throughout the game. Though Hartford also did send some of their best opportunities flying over the net, sometimes just barely.

For Stony Brook, Fanny Gotesson and Julie Johnstonbaugh were constantly headed down the side to try to set up centering passes. Hartford stopped them, but they were constant threats throughout. Johnstonbaugh’s cross pass was what eventually ended up at Francese for the final shot.

Carr had 5 shots, but none landed on net, Stone had 2 shots with one on net. Molly Socha and Gabriela Gamory each had 2 shots but they were not on the goal either. Karoline Petersen and Beatriz Correia each had their only shots land on net.

Johnstonbaugh had 5 shots with 3 on net, Francese had 3 including 2 on net including naturally the door. Gotesson had 3 shots with 1 on goal. Chavkin’s lone shot also went on net.

The Hartford defense for their part did allow a few more chances but also defused the situations. Skylar Vitiello was especially noticeable in this pursuit as she cleared the ball on the rare times Perez gave up a rebound. Vitiello spent the day thwarting SBU plans as she cleared balls, intercepted centering passes, and headed away corner kicks. Fellow defender Madison Stabile blocked at least 2 Stony Brook shots, if not more,

Midfielder Hayley Nolan played a noticeable major defensive role as she intercepted a variety of opposing passes, and had numerous clears from the Hawks end.

Midfield Kimmy Chavkin had a variety of clears for Stony Brook. Defender Anna Slang had a variety of steals to interrupt Hawks machinations. Her fellow defender Sydney Vaughn was also noticeable heading away Hartford corner kicks, intercepting passes, and other disruptions.

Stony Brook rises to 6-7-0 and 2-1 in the America East. Hartford drops to 6-6-1 and 2-1 in the AE.

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