WASHINGTON, D.C.  –  Playing on the road for the fourth-straight match and facing its first nationally ranked opponent of the season on Tuesday afternoon, the University of Hartford men's soccer team battled at No. 14 American and earned a 1-1 draw after withstanding 110 grueling minutes at Reeves Field. The Hawks go to 3-2-2 on the season while the Eagles, who saw their five-game win-streak come to an end, shift to 6-1-1.

The Hawks wasted little time to strike as they capitalized on their first attacking possession. In the third minute, freshman forward Romaine Williamson put the finishing touches on a cross sent into the box by senior linemate Javoni Simms, heading in his first career goal to put Hartford in front early. Later in the first half, Dale Ludwig set up the equalizer for the Eagles by slipping a pass towards the center of the field to Jordan Manley, who reached the back of the net with a low ball to the far post.

Sophomore goalkeeper David MacKinnon did his part to preserve the draw for his team throughout the remainder of the match. Facing 28 total shots – 10 on goal – he recorded a season-high nine saves, including a pair of diving stops in the first overtime period, to help his team snap what was a brief two-game skid. Dylan Hobert had three saves for the Eagles.

In their last two meetings dating back to last season, the Hawks and Eagles have played to draws as the 2013 match ended in a scoreless stalemate. Hartford holds a 1-0-2 edge in the all-time series.

The Hawks conclude their longest road stand of the season on Thursday afternoon when they face St. Francis (PA) at 3 p.m. The Red Flash enter the match with a 4-3-0 overall record.

GOALS SUMMARY:

• Less than three minutes in on the Hawks' first attacking possession, Javoni Simms sent a cross into the box from the right side and Romaine Williamson put the finishing touches on the ball, sending a header to the left post from well inside of the six-yard box
• Dale Ludwig set up the equalizer in the 31st minute as he slipped a pass towards the center of the field in front of the box to Jordan Manley, who beat MacKinnon with a low ball to the far post

COACH POITRAS SAID: 
"We started today's match really well, scoring early and controlling the first 25 minutes. American is a quality team and our guys did well containing their attack and limiting their chances. It is a match we can build on as we get ready for St. Francis on Thursday."

 GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

• Hartford got on the scoreboard on its first attacking possession, catching the American defense off-guard early as freshman forward Romaine Williamson got his head on a cross from linemate Javoni Simms, a junior, to put the Hawks ahead, 1-0, in the third minute
• David MacKinnon chalked up his first of nine saves on the afternoon when the Eagles were awarded a free kick from the far side, about 40 yards out, in the 18th minute; Jake Weinreb's header was stopped by the Hawks' sophomore keeper
• After Dale Ludwig sent a header off a restart wide in the 27th minute, he went on to set up the game-tying goal for American by slipping a pass to Jordan Manley from the right towards the center of the field
• In the 50th minute, MacKinnon came up with another big save on an Eagles' free kick from just outside of the box, diving to his right to keep the score even
• Senior forward Omar Tall had the Hawks' best look in the second period as he blasted a shot from the left side yards away from the box, but Dylan Hobart was in place to make the save
• American had another scoring opportunity late in the contest as Michael Cherry, who was just reinserted into the match, sent a header just over the crossbar with less than 15 minutes remaining; six minutes later, MacKinnon had another diving stop on a shot by Liam Robley
• In overtime, MacKinnon came up with three stops – including two in the first extra session – to keep the contest tied 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• The two teams combined for 39 fouls, with 24 of those whistles being against Hartford
• MacKinnon registered nine saves, a season-high, on 28 total shots faced on the afternoon 

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less): 

• FR striker Romaine Williamson got the Hawks on the scoreboard in the third minute with his first career goal in the 1-1 draw at American
• The Hawks have scored six goals in 2014, with six different players accounting for those scores
• SO keeper David MacKinnon's nine saves between the pipes is a new season-high
• The Hawks' 1-1 draw at American ended a five-match win-streak for the No. 14 Eagles
• Hartford's result at American is its first against a ranked opponent since defeating then=ranked No. 16 Boston University in 2010
• Hartford holds a 1-0-2 edge in the all-time series with American

 UP NEXT:
After spending the last four matches on the road, Hartford concludes its road trek on Thursday afternoon when it travels to St. Francis (PA). Kickoff from Stokes Soccerplex is slated for 3 p.m. 

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