RESULT: Hartford 2, CCSU 1
RECORDS: Hartford (3-3-2), CCSU (2-4-1)
LOCATION: CCSU Soccer Field (New Britain, Conn.)

THE LEAD: Senior Jhamie Hyde netted the game-winning goal on a penalty kick 28 seconds into the second half to lift the visiting University of Hartford men's soccer team to its second-straight victory via a 2-1 decision in New Britain. Classmate Javoni Simmsalso reached the back of the net in the contest, scoring his fifth goal of the season with 16:16 left in the first. That goal was countered by the Blue Devils, though, as Louis Beddouri tied up the score at 1-1 with just four seconds left before halftime. Junior goalkeeper David MacKinnon made one save for Hartford. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Hartford, which controlled possession for most of the first half, reached the scoreboard with 16:16 left to play in the first half as Simms broke through the CCSU defense for his team-leading fifth goal of the season. Brian Richards was rewarded with the assist, after he took a pass from downfield in the right corner of the 18-yard box and pushed a cross into the center of the box. Simms blasted a shot through traffic, and the deflection was sent past Blue Devils' keeper Nick Velleca.
• The Hawks had more scoring opportunities with in the 33rd minute. Beating his defender, freshmanMikkel Song raced into the box and rifled a shot that ricocheted off of the near post. The rebound, which landed on the opposite side of the box, was gathered by senior Rohan Roye, but his shot went wide of the mark.
• The Blue Devils managed to knot up the score in the final seconds of the opening half. With less than 15 seconds left, CCSU scrambled to set up a corner kick. Zach Zurita took the honors on the corner, sending a ball that ping-ponged inside of the scoring box before the foot of Louis Beddouri floated a shot over MacKinnon to make it a 1-1 game. The tally, which was assisted by Ryan Taylor, came with just four ticks remaining on the clock before halftime.
• Taking the 15-minute break for halftime out of consideration, the game would only remain tied for 32 total seconds. Just 28 seconds after the opening whistle for the second half, Simms got tripped up from behind inside of the scoring box, forcing a penalty kick. Taking the attempt was Hyde, who sent a shot to the right as newly inserted CCSU keeper Carson D'Ambrosio dove to his left. The goal, which was Hyde's first of the season, provided Hartford with a lead it would not relinquish.
• Hartford continued to attack, this time producing another look to score in the 61st minute. Junior Jeff Tryon received a pass from Simms and flicked a shot at the net. D'Ambrosio was in place to make the stop for his first rejection of the night.
• Throughout the second half, the Hawks limited CCSU's scoring attempts. The Blue Devils did make a few final pushes in the last four minutes as they created a pair of corner kicks, but were unable to muster up the equalizer. With 40 seconds to go, CCSU had one more chance to tie up the match, but Zurita put a free kick high of the marker to force a goal kick in favor of Hartford.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Hartford held a strong edge in possession in the first half as it outshot CCSU 8-3
• Overall, the Hawks possessed the ball for a large portion of the match and held a 13-8 advantage in shots
• CCSU attempted 10 corner kicks, scoring off of one in the final seconds of the second half; two of its corner kicks were produced in the final four minutes of action
• The Hawks finished with six corner kicks
• MacKinnon posted a pair of saves for Hartford
• CCSU had two players split the goalkeeping duties; Nick Velleca, who had one first-half save, was relieved by D'Ambrosio, who made three stops between the posts

NEWS & NOTES:

• Hartford defeated CCSU for the fifth time in six games and improves to 13-6-2 in the Division I series.
• MacKinnon continues to make moves in the Hawks' Division I record books as he earned his 23rd career victory between the pipes. He is just one win away from cracking Hartford's top-five in the category.
• With a team-leading five goals this season, Simms improves his career total to 25.

UP NEXT:
Hartford returns home for its next match as it hosts Saint Francis (PA) on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 12 noon. The contest is part of a Hawks' soccer doubleheader as the women's team is set to host Maine at 3 p.m.

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