West Hartford, CT - The University of Hartford men's soccer team posted a 2-1 overtime victory over the 2006 America East Champion Binghamton Bearcats on Saturday night at Al-Marzook Field. Both of Hartford's goals came from sophomore Kevin Hall. The Hawks improve to 6-3-2 overall (1-0-1 AE) and Binghamton falls to 9-3 overall (2-1 AE).
“We played a very aggressive team tonight,” said head coach Dan Gaspar. “I have a great deal of respect for their coach and the success they have had, but Hartford is on the move. Everything we were not willing to do in the first 45 minutes we demonstrated in the second half we were capable of doing, and as a result we beat the America East Champions.”
Binghamton opened the scoring in the 41st minute when Cameron Keith scored his team-best sixth goal. The scoring play began with a pass across the back of the box, about three yards off the end line, from Justin Leskow. His pass connected with Pablo Trillo, where he shuffle passed to Keith for the header goal.
Hartford had a pair of looks at the net in the first 45 minutes, the first coming in the 16th minute when Oswald Adu had his shot saved by Binghamton keeper Jason Stenta forcing a corner kick. The second Hawks attempt came with 10 minutes to play before the break, when Daniel Antunez drove down the field, after a Bearcats shot was blocked, but his shot went high.
The game-tying goal came in the 74th minute when Hall connected with Andreas Blamo. Blamo sent a chip pass over the defense, where Hall was able to squeeze through two Bearcats defenders and send the ball to the lower right corner of the net.
Hall struck again with under 1:30 to play in the first extra period. Antunez began the play with a pass from left to right to Adu who found Hall on the opposite side of the box. Hall's shot deflected off the glove of Bearcats keeper, Jason Stenta, into the back of the net. The goals were the second and third of the season for Hall.
The Hawks will trek to Orono, ME for their next America East game on Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
