Men's Soccer Continues to Climb Regional Rankings

REGIONAL RANKINGS - WEEK THREE

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Still unbeaten, the University of Hartford men's soccer team enters the third week of the 2013 campaign ranked seventh in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Northeast Men's Poll, as announced on Tuesday afternoon. The Hawks, who first entered the poll ranked ninth at the conclusion of the opening week, moved up two spots after defeating UMass, 1-0, last Wednesday and playing American, the preseason favorite of the Patriot League, to a scoreless tie two days later.

This week's poll features a new number one as St. John's bumped UConn out of the top spot after scoring a pair of victories. The Huskies slipped to number three in the poll while America East member UMBC took over the second spot after posting a 4-1 defeat of Radford. For the second-straight week, Vermont earned a spot in the polls after going unbeaten in its three matches.

Off to the program's second-best start at 3-0-2, the Hawks are undefeated through five games for just the second time since making the jump to Division I in 1984. An attribute to that success has been Hartford's defensive unit consisting of backs Damion Lowe, Rohan Roye, Jhamie Hyde and Blake Jones as well as rookie keeper David MacKinnon.

All season, Hartford has let just one goal slip by on its watch. In addition to leading all America East squads in goals against average and save percentage, the Hawks also rank among the nation's best in those categories. At the start of the week, Hartford checked in at second in goals-against average (0.18), third in save percentage (.952) and second in shutout percentage (0.80).

Last week, freshman Jeff Tryon netted his first career goal in the 70th minute to award Hartford with its third win of the year by way of a 1-0 final at UMass on Wednesday. MacKinnon made five saves in that match and went on to stop both shots he faced on goal against American on Friday, earning his second and third shutouts of his career. For his efforts, he was tabbed the America East Rookie of the Week on Monday.

Hartford again has a pair of games on the docket this week, starting with a Tuesday night non-conference clash at Marist (7 p.m.). The week wraps up at home on Friday night as the Hawks host Harvard under the lights of Al-Marzook Field at 7 p.m.

Tickets for Friday night's match against Harvard are still available and can be purchased by calling the Malcom and Brenda Berman Athletics Ticket Office at 860.768.HAWK or by clicking here. Tickets will also be available at the box office located outside of Alumni Stadium prior to Friday night's game.