Women's Soccer Opens 2013 Season Friday against Bryant

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Hawks and Bulldogs kick off the 2013 season on Friday as Hartford looks to return to the America East championship game after falling to the Stony Brook Seawolves 1-0 in 2012. Hartford is looking to balance the loss of eight players, including America East Striker of the Year Amelia Pereira and Goalkeeper of the Year Erin Quinlan, with the addition of 13 new faces. 

SERIES HISTORY VERSUS BRYANT
The 2013 season opener is just the second meeting between the Hartford Hawks and the Bryant Bulldogs with each team winning one of the previous two meetings. The first meeting came late in the 2008 season with Hartford posting a 3-0 shutout of the Bulldogs at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium. The Hawks would travel to Smithfield, R.I. four games into the 2009 season, dropping a 2-1 decision.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
The Bryant Bulldogs finished the 2012 season with an 11-8 overall record and a 6-4 mark in Northeast Conference action, finishing fifth overall in the 11-team league. The Bulldogs welcome back their top three scorers from the 2012 squad, which accounts for 13 of the team's 26 total goals. Leading the way will be seniors Shana Follette and Ari Goldberg, who finished with eight and four goals, respectively. Sophomore Rachael Ivanicki returns after leading the team with six assists, while adding a single goal in her rookie season. Between the pipes, Bryant also welcomes back experience in senior Lauren Viverito, who started 16 of the teams 19 games as a junior. The keeper allowed 21 goals (1.41 goals-per-game) and collected 59 saves (.738 save percentage). Viverito also completed a trio of shutouts in 2012.

PRESEASON POLL
The University of Hartford women's soccer team was picked to win the 2013 America East Championship in a vote of league coaches. The Hawks edged out the reigning America East tournament champion Stony Brook by just two points receiving five first-place votes and 61 points compared to four first-place votes and 59 points for the Seawolves. Maine came in third place with 49 points, followed by Vermont in fourth place with 38 points and New Hampshire in fifth with 35 points. Following an eight game conference schedule the top six teams will advance to the America East Championship, which begins with quarterfinal action on October 31.Complete Release

AIKENS, MIKELL NAMED 2013 CAPTAINS
Forward Arielle Aikens and midfielder Raelynn Mikell were named captains by head coach John Natale prior to the season. Aikens started 13 of the 18 games she played in 2012 and collected six total points on one goal and four assists, tied for second most on the team. Mikell started 10 games for Hartford last season and was a key part of the Hawks defense. In the 10 games she played, the Hawks posted four victories and shut out four opponents.

SOPHOMORE STUD
Sophomore Elise Galipo is the leading returner for head coach John Natale and the Hawks in 2013, scoring four goals and assisting on three others in her rookie campaign. The 11 points for the Bristol, Conn. native was the second most on the team last year. Galipo shined right out of the gates, scoring her first collegiate goal in the season opener against Fairleigh Dickinson and assisting on a pair of goals in the second game of the season against Old Dominion, all leading to America East Rookie of the Week accolades.

LAST TIME THEY MET
The Hawks and Bulldogs last meeting came in 2009 when the Hawks dropped a 2-1 Sunday afternoon matinee in Smithfield, R.I. Hartford scored first in the 18th minute when Laura Guigli sent a pass through the defense where, then a freshman, Caitlin Alves scored from the left side past Bryant keeper Katie Mitchell. Bryant would tie the game in the 32nd minute when Stephanie Del Mistro scored unassisted. The game-winner came 23 minutes into the second half when Kaitlyn Hinch scored on a header off a right side free kick attempt from Molly Wallace. Hartford was outshot 11-18 for the game, while the Bulldogs also won the battle of corners with a 5-2 advantage.

NATALE IN SEASON OPENERS
In nine previous season openers Head Coach John Natale sports a 1-4-4 overall record. The lone victory in a season opener for Natale came in 2006, the same season the Hawks won the conference championship, when the Hawks defeated conference foe Albany 3-0. The first two season openers under the Wethersfield, Conn. native were losses against St. John's and UMass. Following the victory against Albany the Hawks finished in a stalemate against Harvard (2007) and CCSU (2008) before dropping back-to-back decisions against Wyoming and Long Island. The last two season openers resulted in 120 minute deadlocks, both with 1-1 final scores. Last season the Hawks finished in a draw with Fairleigh Dickinson. The Knights scored first in the contest in the 28th minute with Hartford knotting the game in the 45th minute thanks to the first collegiate goal from Bristol, Conn. native Elise Galipo.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Four Hawks were honored by College Sports Madness in the 2013 America East Preseason All-Conference release on August 3. Forwards Elise Galipo and Arielle Aikens and defenders Emma Donnelly and Morgan Berry were all named to the Second Team while head coach John Natale was named as the preseason Coach of the Year. College Sports Madness America East Preseason All-Conference

ALL HOME GAMES AVAILABLE FREE ONLINE
For the first year all Hartford Hawks home games, and select road contests, can be seen free of charge on the new Hartford Hawks All Access which is a partnership with the newly released America East Digital Network. Fans will still need to create a username and password but will not be charged for watching games on the America East Digital Network. All home contests will be available, while all road contests against seven of the eight additional league schools will also be available on the Digital Network. Brian Irizarry returns as the voice of Hartford Hawks All-Access broadcasts, calling men's and women's soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, baseball and softball. In addition he is the color commentator for the women's basketball radio broadcasts on WWUH 91.3 FM. A total of 23 games will be broadcast during the fall season, eight women's soccer games, nine men's soccer games and six volleyball matches. Hartford Hawks All-Access

GEAR UP
Be sure to check out the Official Hartford Hawks Online Store for all your favorite Hartford Hawks gear. From t-shirts to sweatshirts, hats to flip flops and mugs to car decals you can find everything you're looking for. Hartford Hawks Online Store

UP NEXT
The Hawks will play their next two games on the road when they travel to Saint Joseph's on Sunday (1 p.m.) and Iona on Thursday (3 p.m.). Last season, Hartford posted a pair of home victories against its next two opponents, outscoring the two opponents by a 7-2 margin. Against the Saint Joseph's Hawks Hartford posted a 5-2 victory with graduates Caroline Dixon and Amelia Pereira each scoring twice. Hawks keeper Erin Quinlan posted her fourth shutout of the season against the Gaels with Pereira and senior Natasha Douglas each scoring.