WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior Amelia Pereira converted a penalty kick in the 86th minute providing the only offense in a 1-0 victory over Binghamton University on Sunday afternoon. Pereira's goal was her seventh of the season as Hartford improves to 5-2-3 overall and opens the conference season with a victory.

With the Hawks advancing late in a scoreless game, Spremullo received a long cross ahead from the center of the field to the left of Binghamton keeper Stephanie Spiers. After working through two defenders and finding her way inside the left corner of the box, Spremullo was dragged down by a third defender setting up the Hawks free opportunity.

Pereira stepped up for her second penalty kick opportunity of the season and tapped a shot to the lower right corner of the net as Spiers dove to her left faked out by the senior striker. Pereira's seventh goal continues to lead the Hawks, while she now has 17 total points with three assists to her credit as well.

Hartford finished the game with an 11-8 advantage in the shot column, but test Binghamton's two keepers just once. Spiers, who played the second half for the Bearcats, finished with the only save for Binghamton. Carrie Martin played a scoreless first half for Binghamton and faced five total shots, none of which put her to the test.

Hartford keeper Erin Quinlan finished the match with three saves, collecting her fifth shutout of the season.

Hartford's Caitlin Alves provided the first shot of the contest as her attempt in the fifth minute sailed wide of the net. After a second shot from Arielle Aikens sailed wide, the Bearcats put Hartford's defense on its heels with back-to-back shots just 28 seconds apart that each forced Quinlan to control.

The first shot was a weak straight away attempt from Bearcats leading scorer Sarah Furminger that Quinlan easily corralled. Jamie Holliday provided the second shot from the corner of the 8-yard box on the right side of Quinlan, but the junior keeper was waiting and secured the shot easily.

The Hawks had a pair of back-to-back opportunities in the 27th and 30th minutes. The first attempt came off the boot of Caroline Dixon after Pereira sent in a free kick not far off the 18-yard box. Dixon's shot came off the tip of her foot and sailed high over the crossbar. Alves provided the second shot in that stretch, hers as she broke through two defenders but saw her attempt hit the side of the net.

Binghamton had one more opportunity before the break as Candice Rowland worked her way through the defense and had her shot just barely miss the upper corner of the right upright.

Just out of the halftime break, the Hawks had their first opportunity come as Alves made a run straight of the midfield but her shot was easily collected by Speirs who collapsed on the attempt. The next best opportunity for Hartford came just under 20 minutes later when Arielle Aikens collected a long cross from Chanel Johnson but her scoring attempt ricocheted off the top of the support and over the net.

Binghamton's only opportunity came 10 minutes later in the 77th minute when Katie Crocoran had her shot thwarted as Quinlan collected the attempt for her third save.

The Hawks return to action on Thursday night when they welcome the UMBC Retrievers to West Hartford closing out a three-game home stand. The Hawks and Retrievers are scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium. To purchase tickets call the Malcolm and Brenda Berman Athletics Ticket Office at (860) 768-HAWK (4-2-9-5) or email tickets@hartford.edu.