Wednesday's Women's College Roundup

Hartford, Bentley Come Out on Top

September 3, 2009

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- The University of Hartford women’s soccer team scored four times in the second half en route to a 4-1 victory over Iona College Wednesday night at Alumni Stadium.

Senior Becky Flowers netted the game-winning goal in the 80th minute and classmate Laura Guigli (North Stonington, Conn.) added a pair of scores in the final seven minutes as Hartford (2-1) came away with a win in its home opener. Iona (1-2) never held a lead despite outshooting the Hawks 23-16 in the contest.

Following a scoreless first half in which Iona was the aggressor, Hartford came out and pushed the pace to start the second stanza. The Hawks put pressure on the Gaels’ defense and finally broke through in the 57th minute when junior Mary Beth Hamilton (Columbia, Conn.) played a ball through the box and found sophomore Amber Smyth open on the left side. Smyth’s shot, which deflected off the crossbar and into the goal, gave Hartford a 1-0 lead. It was also the first goal of Smyth’s collegiate career.

Flowers netted her first goal of the season later in the half. Hartford played a corner kick to the top of the box, which Flowers headed on goal. Iona keeper Kelly Mahoney made the stop but couldn’t hold on to the ball. A defender cleared the ball right back to Flowers, who buried a shot into the right corner for a 2-0 Hartford lead.

Less than two minutes later, Iona clawed its way back into the game with a goal in the 82nd minute when Carly Villanova scored. The Hawks answered right back, as Guigli netted a pair of goals that came less than a minute apart.

The first came from just inside the right corner of the box off a feed from freshman Alex Uscilla (Westport, Conn.). Guigli took the pass and placed her shot inside the far post for her first tally of the season. She then put the Hawks up 4-1 on a goal scored from the left side. Hamilton notched her second assist of the game on the play.

Brodeur finished with a season-high 12 saves in the game. Mahoney made two stops for the Gaels.

Hartford returns to action on Sunday, September 6 at Bryant University. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Bentley 2, Queens 1

WALTHAM, Mass. – A pair of young players made their presence felt Wednesday afternoon, as freshman Laura Garlo (Russell, Mass.) and sophomore Amy Wagner scored goals in Bentley University’s 2-1 win over Queens (N.Y.) in non-conference women’s soccer play. The game was the first of the season for the Falcons.

Only 14 minutes passed before Bentley struck first with Garlo finding the back of the net. After a shot by senior Cheryl Boyd (Holliston, Mass.) was deflected, Garlo gained possession of the ball, and from 15 yards out, chipped a shot that went over the head of Queens keeper Allison Breakey and into the net.

Just under 46 minutes passed before another goal was tallied, with Wagner scoring in the 61st minute for a 2-0 Bentley lead. A cross into the box created a loose ball in front of the goal, and Wagner was there to hammer a shot home for a two-goal lead.

Queens though got a goal back in the 73rd minute to make it a 2-1 game. Junior forward Andrea Slavin dribbled into the box and took a shot from 10 yards away that beat Bentley goalie Kara Smith (West Springfield, Mass./West Springfield) high and into the upper left hand corner of the net.

Only down a goal, the Lady Knights turned up the pressure, taking four shots and a corner kick in the final 14:30, but Smith and Bentley’s defense stood tall to hang on for the win.

Smith made three saves as the Falcons go to 1-0 on the season, while the Lady Knights drop to 1-1-1.

Bentley will next play host to New Haven on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the Northeast-10 opener for the Falcons.