WEST HARTFORD, Conn.—Hartford defender Lauren Aldred posted a hat trick to lead the host Hawks (5-4-3, 2-1-0 AEC) past the UMBC women's soccer team (2-11-0, 1-2-0 AEC) by a score of 3-1 in America East Conference action Sunday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.

Hartford controlled the game all day and held a 14-2 advantage in shots and a 6-1 edge in corner kicks.

Aldred's first goal came off a free kick from 30 yards out in the 24th minute. UMBC goalie Christine Bacinski (Hampstead, Md./Mount de Sales) dove to her right and got a piece of the shot, but not enough to keep the ball from finding the back of the net.

Aldred tacked on her second goal with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half. Off a corner kick, Hartford midfielder Kacey Busque played Aldred with a short pass outside the box. Aldred passed back to Busque, who then played the ball right back to Aldred for a shot. She drilled the ball into the left corner of the goal to give the Hawks a 2-0 edge that they took into halftime.

The Retrievers cut their deficit in half in the 73rd minute when a Hartford foul gave them a free kick from 40 yards out. Senior back Kali Schwartz (Congers, N.Y./Clarkstown South) served the ball into the box and found sophomore back Christine Sadowski (Baltimore, Md./Kenwood), who headed a shot to the left post that beat Hartford goalie Lauren Brodeur and cut the margin to 2-1. The goal was the first of Sadowski's career.

Nearly eight minutes later, Aldred added an insurance goal to put Hartford up 3-1. The Hawks played a ball into the box from the left side that Aldred initially tried to head but couldn't put on goal. The Retrievers failed to clear the ball, and the ensuing deflection ended up in front of the goal. Aldred's second attempt came off her right foot from six yards out, and Bacinski had no time to react.

Bacinski recorded five saves, while Brodeur did not make any.

The Retrievers return to action on Thursday, Oct. 9, when they head to Durham, N.H., to take on America East rival New Hampshire at 3 p.m.