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RECAP: The Green & Blue Grind Out Gritty Road Win in Colorado Springs

Sep 27, 2025; Colorado Springs, CO, USA; Hartford Athletic goalkeeper John Berner (13) in the first half against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Weidner Field. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing/Switchbacks FC

On the road and playing at over 6,000 feet of elevation, Hartford Athletic battled defending USL Championship champions to a 2-0 win, powered by Adewale Obalola and Jack Panayotou goals. 

Hartford goalkeeper John Berner kept the Green & Blue in the game with seven total saves with several crucial stops throughout the first half.

One of his best came in the 24th minute. 

Colorado Springs Switchbacks’ Marco Micaletto took a perfect outswinging corner that found the head of Tyler Clegg. The 6’4” defender made great contact, redirecting the ball towards goal. His attempt was headed for the bottom right corner but Berner reacted quickly to keep the ball out of the goal. The rebound fell to Cole Mrowka who fired off another shot but it sailed just wide. Plus, Berner was already up and ready to handle his shot, in case it had threatened the Green & Blue goal.

Just before halftime, Adwale Obalola netted Hartford Athletic’s first goal of the match. Michee Ngalina received the ball on the left wing and took on his defender right away, beating him on the dribble and cutting inside. The Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo native tried to fire off a shot, but his attempt was unsuccessful. Amid the chaos, Obalola was there to follow up on the bouncing ball and put it in the back of the net in the 41st minute. 

The two teams went into halftime with Hartford up 1-0. 

Just six minutes after retaking the pitch for the second half, the Boys in Green secured another goal. 

After controlling a bouncing ball Jack Panayotou played it out to Obalola on the right wing. Hartford’s first goalscorer quickly played it back to Sebastian Anderson, who took a few touches and then dropped it back for Panayotou. The New England Revolution loanee got the ball under control and then fired off a banger that flew past goalkeeper Christian Herrera without giving him a chance to react. 

With this assist, Anderson equals Emmanuel Samadia for most on the team this season, with five.

Hartord continued to defend as a team for the remainder of the game, making several game-changing defensive stops to keep Colorado Springs off the scoreboard. 

In the 85th minute, a ball rebounded to Duke Lacroix, who brought it under control and charged towards goal. He managed to break through the backline on the right side of the 18-yard-box and was in on goal but Berner charged out to shut off his shooting angle. His shot deflected wide and Hartford maintained the clean sheet. 

The Boys in Green fought through the final minutes to earn a crucial three points on the road. This marks the side’s 10th clean sheet in regular season play.

Hartford Athletic plays next in the USL Jägermeister Cup final on October 4th at 10PM versus Sacramento Republic FC. The game can be viewed on MyTV9, WTNH.com, or ESPN+. 

Additionally, the Green & Blue are back at home for Match for a Cause in support of the American Cancer Society on October 11th at 7 PM. More information can be found here and tickets are available here. 

FAST STATS

HARTFORDCOLORADO SPRINGS
Shots1024
Shots On Target37
Corners311
Fouls158
Offsides21
Possession34.3%65.7%
Passing Accuracy72.1%84.7%
Saves71

SCORING SUMMARY

HARTFORDCOLORARDO SPRINGS
41′ – Adewale Obalola
51′ – Jack Panayotou (Sebastian Anderson)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

HARTFORDCOLORADO SPRINGS
15′ – Matt Mahoney (Yellow)
83′ – Levonte Johnson (Yellow)

LINEUPS

HARTFORDCOLORADO SPRINGS
13 (GK) John Berner1 (GK) Christian Herrera
30 (DF) Adrían Diz Pe4 (DF) Tyler Clegg
5 (DF) Baboucarr Njie14 (DF) Duke Lacroix
22 (DF) TJ Presthus33 (DF) Isaiah Foster (Matt Real, 59′)
19 (MF) Emmanuel Samadia5 (DF) Matt Mahoney (C)
16 (MF) Jack Panayotou (Hadji Barry, 61′)22 (MF) Marco Micaletto (Garven Metusala, 82′)
6 (MF) Beverly Makangila (Marlon Hairston, 76′)37 (MF) Brennan Creek (Steven Echevarria, 76′)
2 (MF) Sebastian Anderson 8 (MF) Cole Mrowka
11 (MF) Michee Ngalina (Junior Moreira, 90+7)20 (FW) Yosuke Hanya
81 (FW) Adewale Obalola (Kyle Edwards, 61′)7 (FW) Jonas Fjeldberg (Levonte Johnson, 60′)
17 (FW) Jonathan Jiménez (Samuel Careaga, 60′)93 (FW) Kyle Vassell (Juan Tejada, 46′)

PREVIEW: Hartford Takes on Defending Champs in Colorado Springs Matchup

The Boys in Green begin an almost two-week-long road trip with a visit to Weidner Field where they will face the 2024 USL Champions Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. During this stretch of away games, Hartford will also play Sacramento Republic FC in the USL Jägermeister Cup Final before facing Oakland Roots in a regular season match. With just five games left this year, the race is on to qualify for the post season and have a chance at lifting the USL Championship trophy.

HARTFORD ATHLETIC vs. COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS FC

WHEN: Saturday, September 27th, 8:00 PM 

WHERE: Weidner Field, Colorado Springs, CO

HOW TO WATCH: MyTV9, WTNH.com, ESPN+

Farrell Joins the 250 Club

With his name in the starting XI last Saturday, Joe Farrell earned his 250th career appearance in the USL Championship, accumulated over 10 years in the league. The 6’2” defender began his professional career with the Rochester Rhinos, a former USL club, where he earned All-League Second Team in his rookie season. Farrell then spent five seasons with Western Conference foe Phoenix Rising before joining Pittsburgh Riverhounds FC for one year, then coming to Hartford at the end of 2023. In his first season with the Boys in Green, Farrell made 29 appearances, with 27 starts, and led the team in clearances (124), blocks (36), and interceptions (31). So far this season, the Blue Bell, PA native has 21 appearances, with 18 starts. He once again leads the team across several defensive stat categories including clearances (123), blocks (19) and aerial duels won (65). Farrell also added a crucial goal in Hartford’s 3-1 win over Greenville Triumph in the semifinals of the USL Jägermeister Cup. 

Rocky Mountain Reunion

When the Green & Blue take the pitch at Weidner Field, it will feel like familiar territory to many, as five members of the team and two of the technical staff once called Colorado Springs home. Beverly Makangila, Michee Ngalina, Hadji Barry, Sebastian Anderson and Adrían Diz Pe all wore the Switchback colors at one point in their careers. Additionally, Hartford Athletic Head Coach Brendan Burke led the Switchbacks for two seasons, taking over a two-win club in 2020 and fostering a resurgence that saw the club earn two trips to the USL Championship playoffs, a first ever trip to the Western Conference Finals, and a 30-23-13 overall record. Makangila, Ngalina and Anderson were all a part of this historic run, while Assistant Coach Aaron Wheeler came out of retirement to join Burke and the Switchbacks in making history, scoring two goals off the bench in the side’s 3-0 win over RGV in the Quarterfinals. Interestingly, no current Colorado Springs player has ever worn the Hartford Green & Blue.

Young Guns Deliver

Head Coach Brendan Burke has shown confidence in young players throughout his career and this year is no different. Hartford Athletic is ranked second in the entire league, including both Eastern and Western Conference clubs, in the amount of regular season playing time given to U-22 eligible players. Split between six different players, the youngsters on the team have played a total of 5,411 minutes, equaling 22.9% of the side’s total game time. Leading the pack is TJ Presthus with 1,626 minutes so far this season. Adewale Obalola, Jack Panayotou, Junior Moreira and TJ’s brother Owen Presthus have also seen significant minutes so far this year. Before his transfer to Minnesota United in the MLS, Mamadou Dieng was one of the most successful young players in club history, becoming Hartdord’s All-Time Leading Goalscorer in just one and a half seasons. Combined, these six players have contributed 15 goals and three assists, proving that their age is no barrier to making a difference on the pitch.

About the Opponent

Coming off a 2024 USL Championship title, the Switchbacks currently sit in eighth place in the Western Conference, just one spot above the playoff line, with 31 points on a 8-10-7 record. Over the past five games, Colorado Springs is 2-2-1. As of Week 30, the USL gave the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC a 56% chance of making the post season, with a projected finish of ninth place. The Boys in Green are 1-2-1 all time against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. At home, Hartford holds a 1-1-0 record against the Colorado side, while going 0-1-1 when visiting Weidner Field.

Players to watch

Hartford – Adrían Diz Pe, DF, 30

Scoring Hartford’s only goal of the last match, Adrían Diz Pe leveled the score at one just nine minutes after Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC found the back of the net. Emmanuel Samadia – back from international duty with his native Sierra Leone – served a perfect inswinging corner into the box, and Diz Pe powered his 6’3” frame above everyone to get his head on the end of it, redirecting the ball into the back of the net. This marked his second goal of the USL Championship regular season, the other of which also came off his head. About 25 minutes later, the Havana, Cuba native once again leveraged his height to divert a Sebastian Edwards long ball right to the feet of Kyle Edwards. His attempt found the back of the net, but it was ruled offside and the goal did not count. Over 18 games and 14 starts, Diz Pe has contributed 13 interceptions, 10 blocks, 89 clearances, 17 tackles (winning 12 of them), 150 duels (winning 89) and 72 aerial duels (winning 53). As the season goes on, Diz Pe has proven himself to be both a solid and dependable defender, as well as an attacking threat on set pieces and corner kicks.

Colorado Springs – Juan Tejada, FW, 27

Juan Tejada had a big showing in Week 27, making the USL Championship Team of the Week, alongside Hartford’s Kyle Edwards, Sebastian Anderson and Head Coach Brendan Burke, and earning a nomination for Goal of the Week, up against Athletic’s Jack Panayotou. In Colorado’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Rowdies – Tejada’s former team – the Panama City native scored a brace within just 16 minutes, while also completing 85% of his passes, registering four recoveries and winning two duels. The goal that earned him the nomination for Goal of the Week was the second of the two and came in the 32nd minute. Tejada received a ball from Duke Lacroix with his back to goal at the top of the 18-yard-box. He took a touch to make a tight turn before firing off a beautifully curving ball that snuck past goalkeeper Bill Hamid. Tejada has two goals and two assists in 23 regular season appearances so far this year.

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Hartford Athletic Fell Short 2-1 In a Tight Battle Against Pittsburgh at Home

In a match marked by early goals, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC emerged with a narrow 2-1 victory over Hartford Athletic on Saturday night at Trinity Health Stadium.


Pittsburgh wasted no time asserting themselves, opening the scoring in just the 3rd minute. Charles Ahl capitalized on a deflected cross from Luke Biasi, coolly slotting home from close range to give the Riverhounds an early start.


Hartford responded swiftly. Just eight minutes later, defender Adrián Diz Pe rose unmarked to meet a corner kick from Emmanuel Samadia, directing a powerful header into the top-left corner to level the match.


For much of the game, the teams played a tense, evenly matched contest. Hartford enjoyed stretches of pressure, while Pittsburgh remained dangerous on the counter. Goalkeepers on both sides were called into action as the teams traded half-chances and physical challenges.


The breakthrough came in the 89th minute, when substitute Chase Boone delivered for the Riverhounds. Latching onto a loose ball in the box, Boone fired a clinical strike past Hartford’s keeper to make it 2-1.


Unfortunately, due to an on field verbal exchange between a Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Hartford Athletic player, Hartford Athletic did not feel comfortable proceeding with the match this evening. The club has requested the league to conduct an investigation regarding the use of racially offensive language by a Pittsburgh player.

FAST STATS

HARTFORDPITTSBURGH
Shots159
Shots On Target46
Corners72
Fouls1211
Offsides14
Possession52.7%47.3%
Passing Accuracy73.9%75.8%
Saves22

SCORING SUMMARY

HARTFORDPITTSBURGH
11′ – Adrian Diz Pe (Emmanuel Samadia)3′ – Charles Ahl
89′ – Chase Boone

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

HARTFORDPITTSBURGH
58′ – Sebastian Anderson (Yellow)
60′ – Adrian Diz Pe (Yellow)

LINEUPS

HARTFORDPITTSBURGH
77 (GK) Antony Siaha (John Berner, 45′)1 (GK) Eric Dick
4 (DF) Jordan Scarlett (C)2 (MF) Daniel Griffin
15 (DF) Joe Farrell 5 (DF) Sean Suber
30 (DF) Adrián Diz Pe8 (MF) Brunallergene Junior Etou (Illal Osumanu, 69′)
2 (DF) Sebastian Anderson9 (FW) Augustine Williams (Brigham Larsen, 82′)
94 (MF) Marlon Hairston12 (FW) Charles Ahl (Chase Boone, 69′)
10 (MF) Samuel Careaga (Jack Panayotou, 63′)13 (MF) Luke Biasi
8 (MF) Junior Moreira (Adewale Obalola, 63′)14 (FW) Chalres Mertz (Jason Bouregy, 81′)
19 (MF) Emmanuel Samadia15 (MF) Bradley Sample (Bertin Jacquesson, 88′)
11 (FW) Michee Ngalina16 (DF) Roberto Ydrach
71 (FW) Kyle Edwards 23 (DF) Guillaume Vacter

PREVIEW: Athletic Looks to Maintain Dominant Run Against Visiting Pittsburgh

The Boys in Green host Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC after a full week’s rest for the first time this month. Despite the packed schedule, the Green & Blue have been able to find results, winning 10 of their last 15 games, plus drawing three and only losing two over that timespan. Additionally, Head Coach Brendan Burke’s side has a staggering xG mark of 33.86 over the last 16 regular season matches, equaling about 2.12 expected goals per game. Hartford will be looking to continue building on this record breaking season against Pittsburgh at home on Saturday.

HARTFORD ATHLETIC vs. PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC

WHEN: Saturday, September 20th, 7:00PM

WHERE: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, CT

PROMOTION: Noche Latina and $2 Beer/$1 Hot Dogs pres. by Modelo

TICKETS: Here

Team of the Week Takeover

Hartford once again swept the USL Championship Team of the Week nominations, with Kyle Edwards, Sebastian Anderson and Head Coach Brendan Burke all getting the nod. Edwards earned his spot after scoring a brace off the bench to buoy Athletic’s 4-0 win over Monterey Bay. With those two goals, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ native tied the single season record for goals off the bench, with seven. He also equaled Mamadou Dieng’s single season scoring record for the club with 11. Sebastian Anderson’s one goal and one assist performance certainly warranted his spot in the Team of the Week. The 5’8” wingback worked hard both offensively and defensively throughout the match, creating five chances, providing three accurate crosses, completing 79% of his passes, and winning four duels and three tackles. Head Coach Brendan Burke earned his second Coach of the Week nomination – just weeks after being selected Coach of the Month for August – after Hartford defeated Monterey Bay 4-0, the largest road victory in club history. Burke also led the Boys in Green to their first cup final, defeating Greenville Triumph 3-1 last Wednesday to advance in the USL Jägermeister Cup.

Hartford’s Clean Sheet King

With last weekend’s three-save performance, goalkeeper Antony Siaha secured his ninth clean sheet of the season, putting him in a tie for third in the league with Pittsburgh keeper Eric Dick. These nine regular season shutouts are also enough for Siaha to draw even with Hartford’s single season clean sheet record, a standard which Jeff Caldwell set in the 2021 regular season. His best save of the match, which came in the 7th minute, was nominated for USL Championship Save of the Week. After a giveaway on the wing in Hartford’s defensive third, Monterey Bay worked the ball into the box and got a cross off. John Klein got on the end of it for a close-range attempt, but Siaha got his right hand – followed by his entire 6’5” frame – down fast enough to stop the ball from going over the line. This save was crucial in defining the energy and momentum of the game, as an early goal for Monterey Bay could have taken the wind out the Boys in Green. The Tucson, Arizona native sits in fourth place in the league with 62 regular season saves. Siaha is quickly establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the league as Hartford’s season goes on. 

Rotated and Ready

In Week 28, Athletic had two huge games on the schedule with only two days of rest in between. However, the depth of Hartford’s squad ensured that this quick turnaround was not a problem for the Boys in Green. Over the two matches, Athletic’s coaching staff started 19 different players, with only GK Antony Siaha, DF Jordan Scarlett and DF Sebastian Anderson making the starting XI in both contests. Even with this rotated lineup, the Green & Blue came away with the win in both matchups, scoring seven goals and only conceding one. As the eight or nine month-long USL Championship season draws to a close and the playoff push reaches its peak, being able to rotate players and avoid injuries becomes crucial to a team’s success.  

About the Opponent

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC currently sits in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, two spots above the playoff line, with 31 points on an 8-9-7 record. As of Week 29, the league gave the Riverhounds an 85% chance of making it to the playoffs, with a projected finish of sixth place. The Boys in Green have faced off against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 16 times in the clubs’ history, with a record of 2-12-2 all time. At home, Athletic is 1-7-5 against the Pennsylvania side. So far this season, Head Coach Bob Lilley’s squad is 2-6-4 away from home. In March of this year, Hartford fell 1-0 to the Riverhounds on the road, but last year’s home contest saw the Green & Blue defend Fortress Hartford with a 2-0 victory, powered by a Michee Ngalina brace within the first 16 minutes.

Players to Watch 

Hartford – Jack Panayotou, FW, 16

With his early goal against Monterey Bay FC, Jack Panayotou reminded fans, coaches and players alike of what they were missing while he was out of commission for three months due to injury. In the 24th minute, Adewale Obalola picked off a stray pass in the midfield and played it to USL Championship Player of the Year Hadji Barry, who quickly passed it on to Panayotou, who was streaking forward on the right side. The New England Revolution loanee cut the ball on to his left foot and fired off a beautifully curving shot that nestled itself in the top left corner of the goal. This spectacular goal was nominated for USL Championship Goal of the Week. Additionally, Panayotou contributed four shots, with two on target, one cross and one big chance created before coming off in the 70th minute. This performance earned the 21-year-old a spot on the USL Championship Rising Stars List for Week 28. As Hartford coaching staff continue monitoring his minutes as he returns from injury, Panayotou has shown he can make a difference every time he steps on the pitch, scoring two goals in his last two appearances. 

Pittsburgh – Augustine Williams, FW, 9 

Augustine Williams is Pittsburgh’s leading goalscorer, netting seven goals in USL Championship regular season play so far this season. He is also the club’s only player to have scored with his right foot (5), his left foot (1) and his head (1) this year. The 6’3” forward is one of the frontrunners on the team in several other stat categories as well, including shots (35), shots on target (20), duels (327), duels won (140), aerial duels (144) and aerial duels won (60). Williams was nominated for USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 27 after scoring a brace against Oakland Roots to power Pittsburgh to their first win in over a month and first win on the road since May. Williams joined the Riverhounds at the beginning of this season after stints with MLS side LA Galaxy and prolific goal-scoring seasons with USL Championship squads Charleston Battery and Indy Eleven. Prior to the season, the Sierra Leone native had 76 career regular season goals, fifth-most in the league’s “modern era” (since 2010) and the second-most among active Championship players.

Inside the Huddle

Join the Conversation

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RECAP: Hartford Sinks Monterey Bay with Explosive 4-0 Finish

An early Jack Panayotou goal and an incredible late-game scoring surge, including a Kyle Edwards brace, powered Hartford Athletic to a 4-0 drubbing of Western conference foe Monterey Bay FC. 

The opening minutes of the game saw a rather even matchup, with possession swinging from end to end and both teams firing off shots.

About halfway through the first half, though, the Green & Blue broke through for the first time. Adwale Obalola worked hard to pick the ball off in the midfield, quickly playing it to Hadji Barry. The USL Championship Player of the Year made a perfectly weighted pass to Jack Panayotou who was wide open on the right side. The New England Revolution loanee took a few touches to set himself up on his left foot before firing off a beautifully curving ball that nestled itself in the top left corner to give Hartford the early lead. 

Hartford continued hunting for a goal, attempting 11 shots to Monterey’s six in the first half. Owen Presthus, Hadji Barry and Jack Panayotou all had extremely dangerous looks on goal. 

Coming out of the locker rooms for the second half, Monterey Bay looked to be gaining momentum, but Hartford’s defense held strong and kept the Seasiders at zero. 

Just as it looked like the game was going to end 1-0, Kyle Edwards secured the first of an onslaught of insurance goals for the Boys in Green.

After controlling a bouncing ball at the corner of the 18-yard-box, Edwards played Michee Ngalina in behind the Seasiders’ backline. The back clipping forward played the ball low and hard across the six, and Sebastian Anderson sacrificed his body to get on the end of it. His attempted popped out to Edwards at the front post for a tap in finish. 

This may have seemed like a great finish for Hartford, but the Boys in Green were not done yet. 

Just one minute into the allotted five minutes of stoppage time, Edwards struck again – securing himself the brace. Ngalina once again received the ball out wide and danced around three defenders to get the ball central, just outside the 18. Anderson ran onto it and played a perfect through ball for Ngalina, who had continued his run into the box. Ngalina’s close range shot was saved by goalkeeper Nico Campuzano, but Kyle Edwards was there to put away the rebound.

But the Green & Blue still were not done. 

Two minutes later, Hartford was awarded a corner kick. Samuel Careaga and Baboucarr Njie combined for a short corner that beat two defenders and released Hartford’s #10 to dribble along the end line. Careaga put the ball into the mix, and Sebastian Anderson finally got one of his own – after being involved in the two previous goals. He blasted the ball into the back of the net with a decisive one-touch shot that guaranteed the win for the Boys in Green. 

Former Monterey Bay goalkeeper Antony Siaha made three crucial saves, and claimed three dangerous crosses, to keep his old team off the scoreboard. The 6’5” Tucson, Arizona native has registered nine clean sheets this year, putting him in a three-way tie for second place in the league.

The Boys in Green are back at home on Saturday, September 20 at 7:00PM against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. It’s Noche Latina and the final fan-favorite $2 beers/$1 hot dog night. Tickers are available here. 

FAST STATS

HARTFORDMONTEREY BAY
Shots1714
Shots On Target83
Corners53
Fouls1518
Offsides12
Possession42.6%57.4%
Passing Accuracy71.2%78.3%
Saves34

SCORING SUMMARY

HARTFORDMONTEREY BAY
24′ – Jack Panayotou (Hadji Barry)
85′ – Kyle Edwards (Sebastian Anderson)
90+2′ Kyle Edwards
90+4′ – Sebastian Anderson (Beverly Makangila)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

HARTFORDMONTEREY BAY
34′ – TJ Presthus (Yellow)29 – Miles Lyons (Yellow)
74′ – Beverly Makangila (Yellow)48′ – Nicholas Gordon (Yellow)
84′ – Antony Siaha (Yellow)65′ – Bench (Yellow)
72′ – Adrian Rebollar (Yellow)

LINEUPS

HARTFORDMONTEREY BAY
77 (GK) Antony Siaha1 (GK) Nico Campuzano
23 (DF) Owen Presthus (Baboucarr Njie, 87′)12 (DF) Grant Robinson
4 (DF) Jordan Scarlett (C)5 (DF) Carlos Guzman
22 (DF) TJ Presthus4 (DF) Alex Lara
33 (MF) Joshua Belluz2 (DF) Nicholas Gordon (C)
6 (MF) Beverly Makangila13 (MF) Mobi Fehr (Pierce Gallaway, 88′)
16 (MF) Jack Panayotou (Junior Moreira, 70′)6 (MF) Wesley Fonguck (Adrian Rebollar, 56′)
2 (MF) Sebastian Anderson27 (MF)Tarik Scott (Mayele Malango, 56′)
17 (MF) Jonathan Jiménez (Michee Ngalina, 63′)41 (MF) John Klein
81 (FW) Adewale Obalola (Samuel Careaga, 63′)15 (MF) Miles Lyons (Joel Garcia Jr., 82′)
92 (FW) Hadji Barry (Kyle Edwards, 46′)31 (FW) Luke Ivanovic (Anton Søjberg, 56′)

PREVIEW: Burke’s In-Form Hartford Squad Heads to Seaside for Key Out-of-Conference Clash

The Green & Blue travel to the West Coast to face off against Monterey Bay FC just three days after defeating Greenville Triumph at home to earn a spot in the USL  Jägermeister Cup final. Led by USL Championship Coach of the Month for August, Hartford will be looking to secure another three points in regular season play. Depending on the results of other games, a win could put Hartford into fourth place in the Eastern Conference. 

HARTFORD ATHLETIC vs. MONTEREY BAY FC

WHEN: Saturday, September 13th, 10:00 PM 

WHERE: Cardinale Stadium, Seaside, CA

HOW TO WATCH: MyTV9, WTNH.com, ESPN+

Burke Leads, Hartford Believes

Hartford Athletic’s head coach Brendan Burke was named USL Championship Coach of the Month, the first manager in club history to earn this recognition. This comes after the Hopedale, Massachusetts native also became the first Hartford Athletic coach to earn a Coach of the Week distinction. Throughout July and August, Burke led the Boys in Green on a nine-game undefeated streak – another best in club history – across all competitions. In the month of August alone, Athletic was undefeated in USL Championship play with four wins out of five contests under his leadership. Additionally, the Green & Blue were ranked third in the league with a 9.8 expected goals mark and first in the league with a +5.64 expected goal differential mark over the past month. Burke has also led Hartford to their first USL Jägermeister Cup final, with the chance to earn some silverware for the trophy case. 

Samadia’s Back and Ready to Roll

While the Hartford faithful have dearly missed Emmanuel Samadia’s presence at the left wingback position, the Sierra Leone native has been a mainstay in his nation’s starting XI as they fight to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The West African country earned four points over two matches to maintain their third place spot in the qualification group, putting them well in the running for a second place finish that would give them the chance to compete in inter-confederation play-in matches for a spot in the world’s biggest soccer tournament. Hartford’s #19 played over 90 minutes in both Sierra Leone’s 1-1 draw against Guinea-Bissau and the nation’s 2-1 win over Ethiopia.

Enough Goals to Go Around

With Hartford’s leading goalscorer now in the MLS, the rest of the team has had to step up to fill the void. And step up they have. In the five games since Mamadou Dieng’s departure, eight different members of the Green & Blue have netted a goal, with only Samuel Careaga scoring more than one in that time frame. In Hartford’s 3-0 trouncing of regional rival Rhode Island FC, Careaga, Kyle Edwards and recent Columbus Crew loanee Owen Presthus all found the back of the net. One week later, in Athletic’s 3-2 win over North Carolina, Careaga scored his second, along with one from Adrían Diz Pe and an own goal forced by Michee Ngalina. The Boys in Green then defeated Miami on the road off a Jack Panayotou goal, before besting Greenville Triumph with goals from Joe Farrell, Marlon Hairston and Michee Ngalina. This variety of goalscorers proves that Hartford has dangerous players sprinkled all throughout the lineup – from centerbacks to center forwards. 

About the Opponent

Monterey Bay currently sits in 12th place in the Western Conference, with 24 points on a 6-12-6 record. The last three teams in the division all sit on 24 points, so a win against Hartford could really boost the side’s position in the table – depending on results of other games. Prior to Week 27, the USL gave Monterey Bay a 38% chance of making the playoffs, so they will be fighting hard to take three points from this weekend’s game. As an out of conference matchup, and with Monterey Bay being a relatively new team to the league, Hartford has only faced off against the California side twice in club history. The two teams have split the matches, with a win at home for both clubs. Last year’s contest was played at Trinity Health Stadium, and the Boys in Green came away with a 2-1 win on goals from Michee Ngalina and Deshane Beckford.  

Players to Watch

Hartford – Michee Ngalina, FW, 11

After resting a game against Miami FC, Michee Ngalina came into Wednesday’s Jägermeister Cup semifinal against Greenville Triumph full of energy and motivation. From the get-go, the Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of the Congo native wreaked havoc on the opponent’s backline. Combining with Baboucarr Njie at left wing back and Samuel Careaga in the midfield, Ngalina made sure Greenville’s defenders were forced to keep an eye on him as he slipped in behind for through balls or took them on at the dribble. As the match came to a close, the 5’11” forward added an insurance goal for the Green & Blue, and fans got to see his famous back flip celebration. For the goal, Ngalina picked off a stray pass in the midfield and took off towards the 18-yard-box at a blistering pace. Virtually unchallenged, he powered the ball into the back of the net to put Hartford up 3-1 with just minutes to play. Ngalina also added four crosses and three final third entries to power his team into the final of the tournament. No matter the opponent or the stakes, Hartford’s #11 can be counted on to step up and create scoring opportunities for his teammates, or himself, making him a player to keep an eye on throughout the match.  

Monterey Bay – Nico Campuzano, GK, 1

The 6’2” goalkeeper has been crucial in keeping Monterey Bay’s post-season hopes alive, working hard to keep opponents off the scoreboard with a league-leading 69 saves over 24 games. Nico Campuzano joined Monterey Bay for this season after stints with UD Las Palmas in Spain, MLS NEXT Pro squads FC Cincinnati 2 and New England Revolution 2, along with fellow USL Championship side Lexington SC. The Los Corrales de Buelna, Spain native was nominated for Save of the Week after Week 27. The block that earned him the recognition came in the Seasiders’ match against Colorado Springs Switchbacks when a forward got free on a breakaway and charged towards goal unchallenged. Campuzano made a flying kick save outside the penalty area to stifle a sure-fire Colorado goal. The Boys in Green will need to create very dangerous opportunities to get past the talented Monterey Bay goalkeeper.

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RECAP: Hartford Books First-Ever Trip to Jägermeister Cup Final with Late-Game Goal Surge

The Boys in Green advanced to the USL Jägermeister Cup final for the first time in club history on last minute goals from Joe Farrell, Marlon Hairston and Michee Ngalina, powering Hartford to a 3-1 win over USL League One side Greenville Triumph. 

With all four goals scored in the final 20 minutes, this semifinal game truly came down to the wire. 

The first hour or so of the game was a fight for control of the midfield, with neither team creating very dangerous opportunities and momentum swinging from one end to the other. The two teams went into the locker room with an xG of 0.09 for Hartford and 0.04 for Greenville. 

The Boys in Green finally broke through in the 70th minute off a Joe Farrell header. Jonathan Jiménz, subbed in just three minutes earlier, was fouled near midfield. Sebastian Anderson served a perfect ball over the Greenville defense to the back post for Farrell to attack. The veteran center back redirected the ball back towards the front post and out of goalkeeper Gunther Rankenburg’s reach, giving Hartford the lead. 

Just four minutes later, though, Triumph responded with a set piece goal of their own. Taken from a similar distance, Pascal Corvino also sent the ball to the back post, where Zane Bubb sailed above his defender to get a head on it. His attempt was going wide but Evan Lee was there to bury the ball in the back of the net. 

Both teams’ goals were scored by defenders. 

For the next 10 minutes, the two teams continued to battle, both making offensive substitutions and looking to get forward as much as possible. 

In the 85th minute, a potential head injury for a Greenville defender caused a stoppage of play when Athletic had the ball in an attacking position. After the player was assessed, the Green & Blue were given a drop ball in the left corner, where they had possession when the play was stopped. 

Anderson played it to Jiménez who served the ball into the box. It was cleared but Michee Ngalina was there to pick up the loose change. He controlled the ball and took off towards the endline, taking on three defenders before getting a cross off. Kyle Edwards received the ball at the far post and fired off a shot. Rankenburg made a good close-range save but the ball deflected to Marlon Hairston who finished the job, giving Hartford the 2-1 lead. 

As the minutes ticked away in stoppage time, Michee Ngalina added an insurance goal for the Green & Blue. He intercepted a stray Greenville pass around halfway and, at a blistering pace, charged towards goal. With only one defender to challenge him, Ngalina blasted the ball away and secured the 3-1 win for Hartford. 

The Boys in Green will face Sacramento Republic FC – who defeated Rhode Island FC in penalties – in the USL Jägermeister Cup on Saturday, October 4th. A draw will be held tomorrow, 9/11, at 9:30 AM to determine who will host the match. Further details to be announced.

Hartford is back at home on Saturday, September 20th at 7 PM against Pittsburg Riverhounds SC. Tickets are available here.

FAST STATS

HARTFORDGREENVILLE
Shots116
Shots On Target53
Corners40
Fouls118
Offsides02
Possession62.7%37.3%
Passing Accuracy81.2%72.6%
Saves22

SCORING SUMMARY

HARTFORDGREENVILLE
70′ – Joe Farrell (Sebastian Anderson)74′ – Evan Lee (Zane Bubb)
85′ – Marlon Hairston (Jordan Scarlett)
90+3′ – Michee Ngalina

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

HARTFORDGREENVILLE
73′ – Baboucarr Njie (Yellow)15′ – Evan Lee (Yellow)
85′ – Gunther Rankenburg (Yellow)
90+7′ – Chapa Herrera (Yellow)

LINEUPS

HARTFORDGREENVILLE
77 (GK) Antony Siaha1 (GK) Gunther Rankenburg
4 (DF) Jordan Scarlett (C)2 (DF) Anthony Patti (Ivan Agyaakwah, 63′)
15 (DF) Joe Farrell 5 (DF) Brandon Fricke (C)
30 (DF) Adrián Diz Pe42 (DF) Zane Bubb (Chevone Marsh, 87′)
5 (MF) Baboucarr Njie (Owen Presthus, 80′)77 (DF) DJ Benton
94 (MF) Marlon Hairston8 (MF) Chapa Herrera
10 (MF) Samuel Carega12 (MF) Evan Lee (Benjamin Zakowski, 90+2′)
8 (MF) Junior Moreira (Jonathan Jiménez, 66′)18 (MF) Connor Evans
2 (MF) Sebastian Anderson9 (MF) Rodrigo Robles (Michael Gonzalez, 75′)
11 (FW) Michee Ngalina11 (MF) Pascal Corvino (Ezekiel Soto, 75′)
71 (FW) Kyle Edwards (Beverly Makangila, 86′)20 (FW) Ropapa Mensah

PREVIEW: Hartford Continues Hunt for Hardware in Semifinal Match Against Greenville

The Green & Blue look to continue the club’s historic Jägermeister Cup run when they host Greenville Triumph SC this Wednesday. Coming off a gritty 1-0 road win at Miami FC, the Boys in Green have been building a wave of momentum and confidence over the past two months. Several new roster additions, including MLS NEXT Pro’s Cameron Duke and USL Championship Player of the Year Hadji Barry are available to boost the squad as the side powers through another busy stretch of the season.

HARTFORD ATHLETIC vs. GREENVILLE TRIUMPH SC

WHEN: Wednesday, September 10th, 7:30PM

WHERE: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, CT

TICKETS: Here

Jack Attack is Back

Jack Panayotou, on loan to Hartford from the New England Revolution, made waves in his first match with the Green & Blue back in April, scoring two goals and powering Athletic to a victory in the side’s first USL Jägermeister Cup match of the year. However, an injury several games later kept Panayotou out of the lineup until last Wednesday’s match against Indy Eleven, when he came off the bench in the 78th minute. On Saturday, the Cambridge, Massachusetts native proved why he deserved all the hype, starting and scoring the winning goal for the Boys in Green. Beverly Makangila’s tough defensive effort to strip the ball off a Miami midfielder set Panayotou up for an uncontested one-touch close-range finish that he executed perfectly. As the 5’7” midfielder works his way back to full health, players, fans and coaches alike will be excited to see what more he can bring to the table. 

New Faces, Instant Impact

In Saturday’s road win, a couple new faces saw the field for the Green & Blue. Recently signed Cameron Duke earned himself a start and USL Championship Player of the Year Hadji Barry saw almost 20 minutes of playing time. Duke, joining Hartford with 54 MLS appearances, slotted perfectly into the lineup as a left wingback. The 24-year-old put in a solid shift, winning two of five duels, completing 77.8% of his passes, gaining possession three times and adding one successful dribble. Barry, coming in as a substitute for Adewale Obalola, showed in a short amount of time just how dangerous he can be. He fired off two shots and placed one on target, while also creating one chance and completing 85.7% of his passes. As the season goes on and Head Coach Brendan Burke looks to rest players to avoid injury, Duke and Barry will be two excellent options  he can reliably turn to. 

How We Got Here

Hartford Athletic hosts Greenville Triumph this Wednesday for the semifinals of the USL  Jägermeister Cup. Play began for this in-season tournament in April, with the Boys in Green going 3-0-2 so far over the course of the competition. In the group stage, Athletic defeated Portland Hearts of Pine 2-0 and Westchester SC 3-2, before drawing Detroit City FC and  Rhode Island FC both 2-2. In the Jägermeister Cup, a tied match went on to a penalty kick shootout, with the winner taking home one extra point in the standings. A heated PK shootout win over regional rival Rhode Island FC gave the Boys in Green the points needed to earn a Wildcard Spot in the Knockout Rounds. Travelling to Texas to face off against San Antonio FC, Hartford faced a tough quarterfinal opponent. Goals from Mamadou Dieng and Marlon Hairston powered Athletic past the home team to advance to the semifinals. The Green & Blue come into this midweek match knowing how hard they have worked to get here and prepared to fight to continue their tournament run. 

About the Opponent

Greenville Triumph plays in the USL League one, so Wednesday’s matchup will be the first time the two teams face off. To get here, Head Coach Rick Wright’s side won their group with nine points on a 3-1-0 record. Greenville lost to fellow League One side South Georgia Tormenta FC, and then went on to best Charleston Battery – who currently sit in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship – along with Miami FC and League One club FC Naples. The quarterfinal draw pitted Triumph against Indy Eleven, who they defeated in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. The South Carolina side currently sits in 11th place in the USL League One with 24 points on a 6-11-6 record.

Players to Watch

Hartford – Antony Siaha, GK, 77

With Saturday’s four-save performance, Antony Siaha moved up to third place in the league (tied with Louisville’s Damian Las) with 59 stopped shots so far this year. This match also marked the 6’5” goalkeeper’s eighth clean sheet of the season, enough to tie for third place in the league in this stat as well. One of his best saves of this weekend’s match came in the 62nd minute. A free kick for Miami FC just outside the 18-yard-box was cleared out of danger but fell to Diego Mercado. The Argentinian midfielder fired off a powerful long-range shot that was headed straight for the bottom left corner. Harford’s #77 made a diving save to keep the ball out of the back of the net and maintain the Green & Blue’s lead. Siaha’s vocal leadership is crucial in keeping Hartford’s backline organized, so even when he is not being forced to make saves, the Tucson, Arizona is key to Athletic’s defense. 

Greenville – Leonardo Castro, FW, 25

In his third year with the Greenville Triumph, Leo Castro leads the team with seven goals, 37 shots and 19 shots on target, while also contributing two assists in USL League One regular season play. He is second on the team with 184 minutes per goal. Defensively, Castro has supplied 11 clearances, three interceptions, 21 tackles (winning 11 of them), 220 duels (winning 94) and 110 aerial duels (winning 49). In the Jägermeister Cup, the Bogotá, Colombia native added the opening goal in Triumph’s 2-1 win over FC Naples. The 33-year-old has previously hoisted the South African Champions title twice, the South African Cup, CAF Champions League title, and CAF Super Cup.

Inside the Huddle

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RECAP: Hadji Barry Debuts, Panayotou Scores Winner as Hartford Tops Miami FC on the Road

USL Championship Player of the Year Hadji Barry got his Hartford Athletic debut in the Green & Blue’s 1-0 win over Miami FC on the road. Also seeing significant playing time – and scoring the game winner – after an injury kept him out of several games earlier this season was New England Revolution loanee Jack Panayotou. 

The first half was a very even matchup between the two sides, with both teams attempting three shots (and one on target) and possession remaining almost equally split (58.4% to Miami and 41.6% to Hartford) 

The second half saw Athletic capitalize on some crucial opportunities and take over control of the game. 

In the 54th minute, Beverly Makangila stole the ball off a Miami defender and carried it until just outside the 18-yard box. Selflessly, he dished the ball out wide to a wide open Panayotou. The Cambridge, Massachusetts native let the ball roll across his body before striking it one-time with his left foot into the back of the net, giving Hartford the 1-0 lead.

This goal marked Panayotou’s first in the USL Championship Regular Season this year, along with Makangila’s first assist. 

Just over two minutes later, the Boys in Green had a dangerous opportunity to double their lead. Jonathan Jiménez won the ball near Hartford’s 18 and dribbled forward. He played it to Panayotou up the flank who turned and took off towards goal. As Panayotou carried the ball, Jiménez hustled to make an overlapping run into space. The newly recuperated midfielder played the ball perfectly into Jiménez’s run for him to control and rip a shot. Goalkeeper Nicolás Campisi came up big with save to keep Hartford at one goal. 

The two teams continued trading possession, with good chances for both sides, throughout the rest of the game. 

Hartford’s next best chance came in the 82nd minute when recently subbed in Hadji Barry received the ball off a throw-in and turned his defender. He played a give and go with Kyle Edwards then slotted Hartford’s super sub in behind the Miami defenders. Edwards fired off a shot but Jonathan Ricketts provided a crucial sliding tackle to keep the ball out of the net. 

Goalkeeper Antony Siaha made some crucial saves in the second half to secure his eighth clean sheet of the season, enough to tie for 3rd place in the league. 

In the 62nd minute, an Athletic clearance fell to Diego Mercado. The 5’7” midfielder took a touch and fired off a shot that was headed straight for the bottom left corner. Siaha propelled his 6’5” frame to the ground to smother the ball and keep Miami scoreless. 

The last couple minutes of the match saw several other dangerous opportunities for the home team but the Boys in Green defended as a team and Siaha came up big with a few other saves to secure the win for Hartford. 

Athletic is back at home on Wednesday, September 10 at 7:30 PM against Greenville Triumph for the Semifinal match of the Jagermeister Cup. Tickets are available here. 

FAST STATS

HARTFORDMIAMI
Shots1113
Shots On Target45
Corners52
Fouls1414
Offsides30
Possession35.9%64.1%
Passing Accuracy69.3%84.4%
Saves52

SCORING SUMMARY

HARTFORDMIAMI
54′ – Jack Panayotou (Beverly Makangila)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

HARTFORDMIAMI
19′ – Jordan Scarlett (Yellow)90+3′ – Matías Romero (Yellow)
67′ – Antony Siaha (Yellow)

LINEUPS

HARTFORDMIAMI
77 (GK) Antony Siaha1 (GK) Nicolás Campisi
22 (DF) TJ Presthus3 (DF) Alejandro Mitrano
4 (DF) Jordan Scarlett (C)93 (DF) César Garcia
30 (DF) Adrián Diz Pe13 (DF) Daltyn Knutson (Deian Verón, 80′)
2 (MF) Sebastian Anderson2 (DF) Jonathan Ricketts
6 (MF) Beverly Makangila8 (DF) Matías Romero
8 (MF) Junior Moreira 7 (MF) Allen Gavilanes (Tobías Zárate, 65′)
16 (MF) Jack Panayotou (Samuel Careaga, 60′)5 (MF) Diego Mercado
17 (MF) Jonathan Jimenéz (Kyle Edwards, 60′)30 (MF) Cristian Vázquez (Francesco Celeste, 79′)
20 (MF) Cameron Duke (Baboucarr Njie, 46′)9 (FW) Francisco Bonfiglio
81 (FW) Adewale Obalola (Hadji Barry, 71′)26 (FW) Lucas Melano (Kevin Hoyos, 72′)

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