Women's Soccer Earns Regional Ranking

This week’s victories over Quinnipiac and Long Island came off the cleats of junior Caitlin Alves (No. 7).

Off to the program's best start under Head Coach John Natale and the best start overall since 1999, the University of Hartford women’s soccer team earned its first regional top-10 ranking of the season on Tuesday.

The Hawks 5-0-1 overall record is the only unbeaten tally among the top 10 in the Northeast Region in 2011. Since opening the season with a 1-1 draw against the Old Dominion Monarchs, the Hawks have rattled off five straight victories, four of which have been shutouts. This week’s victories over Quinnipiac and Long Island came off the cleats of junior Caitlin Alves and graduate student Mary Beth Hamilton.

First year keeper Erin Quinlan has now gone 469-straight minutes scoreless in goal for the Hawks, stopping 22 saves on the season for a .957 save percentage. Her single goal allowed in 2011 gives her an impressive 0.17 goals-against average.

The Hawks will play their next two games at Marist as part of the Red Foxes tournament. The Hawks will not play the host team, but will face Lafayette (Friday at 4:30 p.m.) and Cornell (Sunday at 12 p.m.). The Hawks will then return to West Hartford for their final tune-up before opening conference play. The Hawks’ next home game welcomes another in-state rival, Fairfield, to Alumni Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m.

SEE THE NSCAA NORTHEAST REGIONAL RANKINGS.