Box Score


NEWARK, NJ—Hartford's star striker Chanel Johnson scored the only goal for either side in the 30th minute and the visiting Hawks held on to edge NJIT 1-0 in women's soccer Sunday afternoon on Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
 
Hartford goes to 2-0, having opened its season two days earlier with a 1-0 victory in Rhode Island at Bryant. The senior Johnson, selected as the America East Conference Striker of the Year in 2013, scored the only goal of the match at Bryant, as well.
 
NJIT, which opened its season Friday night with a 1-0 home win over Canisius, is even at 1-1 with the defeat Sunday afternoon.
 
The overall shots totals Sunday favored the Hawks, 9-6, and NJIT goalkeeper Samantha Bersett made four saves in addition to conceding the lone goal. On the other end, Harfford's senior goalkeeper Alison Koerkenmeier need one save in posting her second shutout in as many games.
 
A corner kick set up Johnson's game-winner. Junior midfielder Sidney Spremullo set the play, serving the ball from the left corner to inside the box, where the ball was touched in a scramble just outside the goalie box. Johnson gained control in the scramble and struck a shot over NJIT's Bersett and into the net.
 
NJIT's best chance for a second-half equalizer came along in the 70th minute. Awarded a corner kick, the Highlanders restarted in the left corner and got a diving header off the corner from senior Megan Dellavalle, but her shot missed wide at the near post.
 
Hartford got two shots on goal in the first half and three in the second, with Johnson, who had five shots overall, putting three of her tries on frame. Sophomore Aalyaiah Ingram got three shots for the Hawks, two on target. Of NJIT's six total shots, the one shot on goal came in the second half from senior Rebecca Tustin.
 
Next up on the schedule for the Highlanders is the Nike Tournament in Charleston, SC, when the Highlanders visit Charleston Southern on Friday at 4 pm and The Citadel on Sunday at noon.