WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – An early goal from junior forward Javoni Simms was all the University of Hartford men's soccer team needed to take down the visiting Villanova Wildcats at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium on Saturday night. The Hawks remain unbeaten in 2014 at 2-0-1 while the Wildcats, who have yet to find the back of the net this season, drop to 0-3-0.

With the start of the match being played inside of the midfield box and neither team establishing true possession, Hartford quickly changed that and got on the board just 73 seconds after kickoff. Senior midfielder Patrick Hallahan sent a pass downfield out of a scrum to junior Javoni Simms. Dribbling down the right sideline, Simms dodged a Wildcat defender and from eight yards out, sent a low shot to the far post, out of reach of Villanova keeper Will Steiner.

Fifteen minutes later, the two teams would be forced off the field due to lightning strikes in the area. After withstanding an hour and nine minute delay, neither team would score as the Hawks break open what was an even series with Villanova by improving to 2-1-1.

Sophomore keeper David MacKinnon made three saves on the evening, earning his second-straight shutout and the 12th clean slate of his career. Hartford returns to action this weekend when it opens up the Akron Tournament with the program's first-ever meeting with the College of Charleston on Friday at 4 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

• Javoni Simms got the Hawks on the scoreboard quickly as he netted his first goal of 2014 just 73 seconds after kickoff
• At 7:22 p.m., with 28:11 left in the opening half, the field was evacuated due to lightning strikes in the area
• Play resumed an hour and nine minutes later, and the Hawks would dominate the offensive side of the pitch for the majority of the match
• In the 30th minute, Villanova had its first look at the goal as Hayden Harr rifled a shot from point blank just yards out; MacKinnon was in place to make the deflection, and Max Kroschwitz's attempt on the rebound went over the crossbar
• Hartford had two more looks at doubling its lead in the second half, starting with an attempt from freshman Romaine Williamson in the 53rd minute; the forward got his head on a ball served inside of the box, but Steiner just got a fist on the high volley to keep the score at 1-0
• Thirteen minutes later, senior forward Omar Tall fired a shot from the right side, one that was deflected off of Steiner in the 68th minute; the ricochet landed on the left foot of Mike Barry, who put a ball just wide left of the post
• Villanova had one more chance at tying things up in the 78th minute, but MacKinnon was in place to not only make the stop but secure the ball a point blank shot on goal from Willis Griffith out of a corner kick

 GOALS RUNDOWN:

• Breaking out of the middle of the field, senior Patrick Hallahan sent a pass downfield to junior Javoni Simms, who dribbled down the right sideline, dodged a defender and sent a low ball from eight yards out to the far left out of reach of Villanova keeper Will Steiner for the first goal of the contest

 INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Holding slight edges in shots (5-4) and corners (2-0) at the half, the Hawks finished with a 12-6 advantage in the shots column and a commanding 6-1 lead in corner kicks
• David MacKinnon made a trio of saves, including one key stop in the 78th minute, to earn his second-straight shutout
• Three of the Hawks' shots were marked on target, forcing Villanova keeper Will Steiner to make a pair of saves

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less):

• Hartford remains perfect on its home field and keeps its unbeaten record intact at 2-0-1 with Saturday's win over Villanova
• For the second-straight season, Hartford is unbeaten through its first three contests as it also went 2-0-1 to start in 2013
• In their last 14 home games, the Hawks have gone 8-2-2 on Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium
• With the win, Hartford broke open a 1-1-1 deadlock with Villanova to take the lead in the series at 2-1-1
• Junior Javoni Simms put the Hawks on the scoreboard just 73 seconds in with his first marker of the year
• Providing the heroics Saturday, Simms also scored his team's lone goal last season against Villanova, a game that ended in a 1-1 draw
• Between the pipes, sophomore David MacKinnon tallied three saves to preserve the shutout – his second-straight and 12th career clean slate

 UP NEXT:

The Hawks return to action on Friday afternoon when they open up the Akron Tournament with a 4 p.m. tilt against the College of Charleston. The matchup between the two squads will be the first-ever.

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