Two Hawk Soccer Players Chosen for All-Star Game

Patrick Boucher and Jorge Rodriguez, a pair of University of Hartford men’s soccer seniors hailing from the Nutmeg State, have been selected to play in the New England Intercollegiate Soccer League’s All-Star game, as announced on Monday afternoon. The match, which pits the Division I All-Star selections up against the Division II All-Star team, will be held on Sunday, Nov. 27, at Harvard University, with kick-off scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

The Hawks’ duo is among 25 student-athletes from the New England region selected to represent the Division I All-Star team joining Vermont’s Juan Peralta and Yannick Lewis from the America East Conference. Boucher and Rodriguez helped lead the Hawks to 28 wins including three trips to the league’s postseason tournament.

A midfielder from Cromwell, Conn., Boucher started and played in all 21 games this year for the Hawks. An All-Rookie Team pick in 2008, he scored his second America East postseason honor this season when he was named to the all-conference second team earlier this month. With five points on one goal and three helpers in 2011, Boucher closed out his career notching 27 career points (8 goals, 6 assists), including five career game-winning goals.

Rodriguez, a defender from East Hartford, Conn., saw time in 66 games and made 63 starts during his career with the Hawks. A crucial member of Hartford’s backline, Rodriguez helped the defense post 20 shutouts during his career in the scarlet and red. This year, Rodriguez netted a career-best two goals, including the eventual game-winner in the Hawks’ 3-1 regular season win over UMBC to finish with eight career points. Rodriguez was also an America East All-Rookie Team selection at the conclusion of the 2008 season.

After starting the season 1-5, Hartford went unbeaten in six of its last seven regular season games, including three-straight wins in the America East to close out the season and earn a berth to the 2011 America East tournament. As the tournament’s fifth seed, the Hawks scored wins at both UMBC and top-seeded Boston University to punch their ticket to the America East Championship game for the first time since 1999. Hartford dropped a 4-2 decision in the title game to No. 2 Stony Brook to close out the 2011 season with a mark of 8-9-4.