DeLand, Fla. – Stetson (0-2-0) battled all night long with the University of Hartford Hawks (2-0-1) yet fell in the end by a score of 1-0.

With less than nine minutes remaining in regulation play Hartford took advantage of a questionable foul call. Senior Lauren Aldred (Manchester, England) blasted a direct kick over the Stetson wall and under the crossbar for the game’s lone score.

Stetson followed with a late-game surge and applied pressure on the Hawks’ defense, yet could not get the equalizer. Hartford led 18-12 in total shots, yet the Hatters held a 10-7 advantage in the second half.  

“We tried to be too perfect with too many passes in the first half”, said Hatters Head Coach Julie Orlowski. “After talking about it during halftime we came out in the second and applied pressure.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Andrea Garavaglia (Webster Groves, Mo.) started her first game of the season and picked up a pair of saves. Although Stetson is still playing a few players short, it played at a very high level all night.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the way our team played tonight”, said Orlowski. “Our intensity never dropped which is very encouraging for the future. Our fans that paid to get in certainly got their money’s worth.”

Adding to the team’s injury woes, senior forward Stephanie Webb went down late in the game and was carried off the field with an apparent knee injury. Stetson fans will be hoping she is able to return to the field when the team gets back into action Friday, September 5. The Hatters will be traveling to Raleigh, North Carolina to play in the N.C. State/Residence Inn Women’s Soccer Tournament. They will take on UNC Greensboro on Friday at 5:00 p.m. and North Carolina State on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.