DURHAM, N.H. – After 110 minutes ended in a 1-1 stalemate between the Hartford Hawks and the New Hampshire Wildcats, the University of Hartford men's soccer team advanced to the 2013 America East Championship game thanks to pair of saves from David MacKinnon in a penalty kick shootout. Hartford advances to face the #1 seed UMBC Retrievers on Saturday with kick off slated for 7:30 p.m.

"Obviously, we are excited to be in the championship game," said head coach Tom Poitras. "By the NCAA rules it goes down as a tie, but I've always believed if one team is moving on and one isn't it's a win. We knew it would be a hard fought match, and our guys showed a lot of character and perseverance from our first match against UNH."

Hartford's only marker in the contest came late in the 15th minute from sophomore Javoni Simms, an All-Conference First Team honoree. Simms worked off a rebound from a Damion Lowe shot, blasting his attempt from outside the 18-yard box. The goal is Simms team leading eighth of the season.

The Hawks title game appearance is the second in three seasons, both under third year head coach Tom Poitras. Hartford also extended its unbeaten streak to eight straight games and got the upper hand on New Hampshire for the first time in the last three attempts.

Following regulation and a pair of 10-minute scoreless overtime periods, the Hawks left the contest in MacKinnon's hands between the pipes. After Anthony Santaga and UNH's Lukas Georgik found the pack of the net in the first round of penalty kicks, Hartford got the early advantage after David Bernhardsson tallied his PK and Mackinnon made a diving stop to his left on Ugochukwu Uche's attempt.

After good PK's from Lowe and Udi Cohen, New Hampshire sent Jesus Tedula to the box to face MacKinnon. Tedula fired his shot straight at MacKinnon who stayed his position and collected the shot in his chest for the victory.

Hartford came out of the gate firing on all cylinders recording a pair of shots in the first four minutes. The first attempt came from Simms which sailed high over the net.The second shot was a header attempt from Lowe which forced Travis Worra to make his first of four saves in the opening half.

Eleven minutes into the contest, Byron Greenwood forced the Hawks netminder into action as he sent a cross into the box which MacKinnon picked out of the air to end the play. Greenwood would then open the scoring a little over three minutes later when he scored from 22-yards out, blasting a shot from the left side that ricocheted off the crossbar and into the net.

Hartford evened the score 51 seconds later as Simms poked in his team leading eighth marker of the season off a rebound. Simms collected the ball well outside the 18-yard box and fired a hard shot to the lower right corner. The initial shot of the series came from Lowe.

The Hawks then looked to take their first lead of the contest with 15 minutes remaining in the opening half as Simms blasted another shot over the crossbar on a second rush attempt off of Hartford's second corner kick of the evening. A little less than four minutes later Aleko Petridis pulled the trigger for the first time in the game with his attempt also going high.

Santaga would also get in on the action as he dribbled forward nearly 40 yards firing a shot straight on from the top of the box that Worra collapsed on for the stop. MacKinnon would finish the opening half with a pair of saves, the second of which came with 3:45 remaining before the break. The shot came in a scrum inside the six-yard box but MacKinnon was directly in the path, easily stopping the Wildcat rush. Hartford took a 9-6 shot lead into the intermission.

New Hampshire had the first opportunity in the second half as Robert Palumbo fired a shot toward goal that was blocked by a Hartford defender ending the New Hampshire surge.

With 26 minutes remaining in regulation, Hartford pushed forward with Cohen providing a cross through the box that Santaga narrowly missed a diving header that would have given the Hawks a 2-1 lead. Under three minutes later, Hartford had another attempt, this time with Simms getting a shot off a long throw in, with the scoring attempt going over the net.

With under five minutes left before the extra time, Lowe battled to win the ball off a defensive misplay by the Wildcats. He dribbled forward and sent a cross into the box where Omar Tall was able to get a head on it, but his shot went high.

Hartford had the upper hand in both of the overtime periods, including five shots in the first 10 minutes. The first of those came from Petridis who had his hard blast blocked by a defender. With 4:27 remaining in the first OT, Hartford began a series of three shots in a 90 second span, keeping the pressure on New Hampshire and Worra.

The final opportunity came on a re-start with 37 seconds remaining in the contest. Cohen would provide the attempt that came from about eight yards off the top of the box with his shot just barely missing the crossbar.

Hartford finished the night with a 20-11 advantage in shots, forcing Worra to make five total saves. MacKinnon finished the semifinal match with a pair of saves, both coming in the first half.