The women of UHart’s soccer team clinch a spot in the America East playoffs, as they advance towards the championship tournaments of the season like their male counterparts who also clinch a spot as well. The Hawks advance to the semifinals of the America East Tournament, after beating UMass Lowell in a double overtime game during last Sunday’s match at Al-Marzook Field.

Senior player Skylar Vitiello contributes to the efforts on making The Hawks make the semifinals of the AE tournament, by scoring a goal near the end of the match. The Hartford Hawks stand at 9-6-2 overall with the win, while rivals UMass Lowell closes out its 2019 season with a 4-11-2 on record. Other players who efforts didn’t go unnoticed were goalkeepers Maia Perez and Annerens Tijm, who both had two saves equally in the first half, since at half time the game was scoreless.

Also helping out were players Madison Stabile a senior and award winning player Sierra Stone whose goals and assist led to the team winning the game, especially Stone’s lone shot at the end of the match. In addition to the games, player Sierra Stone keeps the accolades coming during her senior year. Stone was awarded the 2019 America East Midfielder of the year during a conference on Monday Afternoon, her selection for the award was unanimous. Stone just last week was named to the America East All-Conference First Team, herself leads Hartford’s offense and is currently number 3 in the America East with a high-career 18 points behind a conference-best of 10 assists. Being her third major award during her time as a Hawk.

The Hawks currently ranking third not only advanced to the semifinals of the America East Tournament, but are set to battle out second-seeded and defending America East Champions, UAlbany on Thursday night. This marks a rematch in the making, since Hartford took on the team last year which resulted in The Hawks being eliminated during the semifinals of 2018. The rematch battle is set to take place at Tom and Mary Casey Stadium with kick-off set for 7 p.m. If the ladies on UHart can pulled-off a win, it will result in the advancing of them to the final match of the America East Championship, either taking on number 1 seeded Stony Brook or number 4 seeded New Hampshire on Sunday, November 10.

UAlbany won the past two meetings with Hartford, including a 1-0 decision in the semifinals last year 2018 America East Tournament in West Hartford, these two teams are literally right behind each other in the rankings, but it should be a showdown for the ages as both teams fight to have a place in the final.

IMAGE COURTESY OF HARTFORD SPORTS INFORMATION