By Danny Contreras
The matchup between CCSU and the University of Hartford women’s soccer teams proved to be physical as the Blue Devils brought down the Hawks by a score of 3-1.
The game started off rather slowly, with neither side wanting to make an attack on their opponent’s defense. The midfield was crowded and the first ten minutes of the match were uneventful.
Then at the 10 minute mark, CCSU came under attack after a through ball from UHart midfielder Michelle Babin linked up with striker Breeanna Robinson. However, the backline held up together and was able to put pressure on Robinson whose effort went wide of the post.
After consecutive attacks on the goal by CCSU, UHart changed their formation from 2-4-4 to 1-5-4 in order to counterattack in the midfield. This seemed to work in the 16th minute, after a defensive mistake by CCSU was picked up by UHart’s striker Robinson, who quickly tried to get a shot on goal, but fell short due to an one-handed save by CCSU goalkeeper Jamie Trayer.
On the 40th minute a built up CCSU attack was broken down in the back line and UHart counterattacked when their lone striker Breeana Robinson picked up the ball after a defensive error between one of CCSU’s defenders and goalkeeper, placing a groundstroke to the bottom left goal giving the Hawks a 1-0 lead at the end of the first half.
The second half started with a kick-off from CCSU. At the same minute of the kickoff, right wing defender Shealagh Begley made a run on the right and tried to get past the Hawks’ backline. Her shot went directly in the hands of the goalkeeper.
Three minutes later CCSU striker Beth Lloyd quickly seized the ball from the midfield and made a run on goal. She was ready to pull the trigger as a Hawks defender sloppily tripped the striker, which was called for a penalty. The striker quickly converted the chance into a penalty and marked her sixth goal of the season in five games, tying the game at one a piece.
“Of course there is always some doubt in your mind when you’re down one nil but you gotta believe,” said head coach Mick D’Arcy. “There is always a lot of physical contact in a local derby, especially with the history and the proximity of both schools. It was expected.”
Minutes later another combination from UHart midfielder, Babin, and striker, Breeanna Robinson, made the CCSU back line worry as she got a shot on goal, but was wide of the mark.
The match was rather quiet for the first third of the second half with neither side trying to attack the other. Nonetheless, CCSU on the hunt again on the 63rd minute when an attack started by left back Jewel Robinson was deflected into a corner.
At the 64th minute Hawks’ striker Breeanna Robinson was yellow-carded for a hard challenge on a CCSU defender. After a failed shot on goal from the resulting free kick the rebounded ball came to the feet of CCSU midfielder Allison Kelley, who quickly converted it into a through ball for Lloyd, who put it past the post and put CCSU on the forefront 2-1.
CCSU had tasted blood and liked it as eight minutes later another combination from Kelley and Lloyd put CCSU up 3-1 and the game out of the reach of the Hawks.
With two assists from Kelley and Lloyd’s first ever hat-trick, the Hawks became desperate. Their defense did not take a break from the constant CCSU attack. Their efforts came to an end as a shot on goal went wide from Breeanna Robinson. Shortly thereafter, CCSU controlled efficiently and won the game 3-1.
“I feel awesome, this was my first hat-trick and it feels really good,” said Lloyd.
The Blue Devils are back in action on Friday Oct. 8 at 12 p.m. to face Mount St. Mary’s.
