ALBANY, N.Y. – The University of Hartford men’s soccer team earned its first point in league play on Saturday when it played the University at Albany Great Danes to a 1-1 draw at Varsity Field. The tie snapped a two-game skid for the Hawks.

The Hawks got on the scoreboard first in the 43rd minute on Anthony Santaga’s second goal of the season but Albany countered with a goal of its own in the 68th minute. Despite combining to outshoot the Great Danes 6-1 in the extra periods, the Hawks were unable to put the game away and come out with their first win in league play. Both the Hawks and Great Danes remain winless in America East Conference play with identical marks of 0-1-1. With the tie, Hartford’s record moves to 3-7-3 while Albany shifts to 4-6-1.

Albany tested Hartford’s defense early, forcing keeper Luke Citriniti to make a pair of saves on two shots by Jeff Pierre in the 15th minute and the 21st minute. The Hawks responded with six shots of their own, including two by sophomore transfer David Bernhardsson that were rejected by Great Danes’ keeper Adrian Foncette, before finding the back of the net on their seventh attempt at the 42:18 mark.

Patrick Boucher provided the feed for Santaga that put the Hawks ahead at 1-0. Boucher launched a long cross to the middle of the box which Santaga put the finishing touches on with his shot to the left post out of reach of Foncette.

Albany responded midway through the second when Pomare Te Anau scored on a direct kick in the 68th minute to tie the match at one goal apiece. The Hawks again outshot the Great Danes in the second period, this time by a slight 7-6 margin.

Hartford dominated play in the two overtime periods, attempting six shots in the final 20 minutes while allowing its counterparts just one look at the goal. In the first extra period, the Hawks had three opportunities, including two on net, to put the game away but Foncette recorded saves in both the 93rd and 98th minutes to preserve the 1-1 tie.

In the final period, Hartford again had three shot attempts. In the 102nd minute, Santaga saw his shot blocked by an Albany defender while less than one minute later, Atobra Ampadu rifled one at the target however the Great Danes’ keeper was in place to make the stop. Hartford’s last attempt at breaking the deadlock came in the 109th minute on a header by Santaga which floated high over the crossbar.

Hartford outshot Albany, 20-10, while the Great Danes held a slight 6-5 edge in corner kicks. Citriniti recorded four saves in the match while Foncette finished with seven.

The Hawks will continue the quest for their first win in conference play and wrap-up a three-game road stretch when they travel north to Durham, N.H. to face the Wildcats on Tuesday, October 11. First kick between Hartford and New Hampshire is scheduled to go off at 3:00 p.m.

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