News Archive

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (9-13-3) at NEW MEXICO UNITED (10-9-7)

Date: Wednesday, October 6th

Time: 9:00 PM ET

Location: Isotopes Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch

LAST TIME OUT:

Down a goal in the 81st minute against Charlotte Independence, Danny Barrera stepped up to take a free kick for the home side, curled a ball to the near post only for it to be headed in by a Charlotte defender for an own goal. Hartford had leveled the match! But just as quickly, Charlotte turned around and answered, with Dane Kelly scoring his 96th career goal to give Charlotte a lead they would not relinquish. 

CONTRIBUTIONS IN DEFENSE:

Nico Cardona has been a new face in what has been a rather consistent back line for Hartford this season. He has made starts in three consecutive matches for Hartford, two at right back and most recently at his more natural position of center back in a 2-1 loss to Charlotte.  He’s recorded 10 clearances, and 3 blocks in that stretch – both the most on the team – as well as 5 tackles and an interception. Head Coach Harry Watling has made a point of wanting to develop talent and Nico’s progression throughout the season is showing the fruit of the labor

ON THE ROAD AGAIN:

Hartford hit the road for the first time since September 11, the longest stretch without a road trip since early July. Unfortunately, road trips have been less than kind for the Boys in Green, who haven’t won on the road since a July 13th victory over Tampa Bay Rowdies and who haven’t scored on the road since August 7th. With three consecutive road matches coming up and a giant hill to climb to make the postseason, Hartford will need to figure out the source of its away from home issues.

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (9-13-3) at NEW MEXICO UNITED (10-9-7)

Date: Wednesday, October 6th

Time: 9:00 PM ET

Location: Isotopes Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch

LAST TIME OUT:

Down a goal in the 81st minute against Charlotte Independence, Danny Barrera stepped up to take a free kick for the home side, curled a ball to the near post only for it to be headed in by a Charlotte defender for an own goal. Hartford had leveled the match! But just as quickly, Charlotte turned around and answered, with Dane Kelly scoring his 96th career goal to give Charlotte a lead they would not relinquish. 

CONTRIBUTIONS IN DEFENSE:

Nico Cardona has been a new face in what has been a rather consistent back line for Hartford this season. He has made starts in three consecutive matches for Hartford, two at right back and most recently at his more natural position of center back in a 2-1 loss to Charlotte.  He’s recorded 10 clearances, and 3 blocks in that stretch – both the most on the team – as well as 5 tackles and an interception. Head Coach Harry Watling has made a point of wanting to develop talent and Nico’s progression throughout the season is showing the fruit of the labor

ON THE ROAD AGAIN:

Hartford hit the road for the first time since September 11, the longest stretch without a road trip since early July. Unfortunately, road trips have been less than kind for the Boys in Green, who haven’t won on the road since a July 13th victory over Tampa Bay Rowdies and who haven’t scored on the road since August 7th. With three consecutive road matches coming up and a giant hill to climb to make the postseason, Hartford will need to figure out the source of its away from home issues.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Conor McGlynn, MF, #28

While it's Danny Barrera who is often referred to as a magician in the midfield, it's Conor McGlynn who brings solid defensive play, quality distribution, and an absolute rocket of a leg that has created multiple highlight reel goals this season. He was brought on in the 31st minute by Head Coach Harry Watling last game and he thought that the team looked "brighter and like they had more of a handle on the game." Whether as a starter or a substitute, McGlynn makes a big impact on the pitch for Hartford and that will be incredibly important against New Mexico.

New Mexico United, Andrew Tinari, MF #20

The creative midfielder will be the player Hartford will need to keep a close eye on Wednesday night. Tinari leads New Mexico with 7 assists on the season, and shutting down the playmaker will be key to keeping New Mexico off of the scoreboard.

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Nii Armah Ashitey (Leg), Carlos Merancio (Knee)

Unavailable: Walmer Martinez (International Duty)

New Mexico United:

Out: Sam Hamilton (Lower Body), Harry Swartz (Lower Body)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT:

New Mexico United welcome Hartford to Isotopes Park coming off a 3-1 road loss to Louisville City FC on Sunday, but rattled off 3 consecutive wins prior that have pushed them into the final playoff spot in the Mountain Division. New Mexico are hard to beat at “The Lab” boasting a 7-1-4 record in Albuquerque as opposed to just 3-8-3 away from home. Former Hartford Athletic midfielder Harry Swartz signed with New Mexico in the offseason, but will not be available for the match after having season-ending surgery earlier this year.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Follow along on twitter @hfdathletic and #NMvHFD

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Conor McGlynn, MF, #28

While it’s Danny Barrera who is often referred to as a magician in the midfield, it’s Conor McGlynn who brings solid defensive play, quality distribution, and an absolute rocket of a leg that has created multiple highlight reel goals this season. He was brought on in the 31st minute by Head Coach Harry Watling last game and he thought that the team looked “brighter and like they had more of a handle on the game.” Whether as a starter or a substitute, McGlynn makes a big impact on the pitch for Hartford and that will be incredibly important against New Mexico.

New Mexico United, Andrew Tinari, MF #20

The creative midfielder will be the player Hartford will need to keep a close eye on Wednesday night. Tinari leads New Mexico with 7 assists on the season, and shutting down the playmaker will be key to keeping New Mexico off of the scoreboard.

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Nii Armah Ashitey (Leg), Carlos Merancio (Knee)

Unavailable: Walmer Martinez (International Duty)

New Mexico United:

Out: Sam Hamilton (Lower Body), Harry Swartz (Lower Body)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT:

New Mexico United welcome Hartford to Isotopes Park coming off a 3-1 road loss to Louisville City FC on Sunday, but rattled off 3 consecutive wins prior that have pushed them into the final playoff spot in the Mountain Division. New Mexico are hard to beat at “The Lab” boasting a 7-1-4 record in Albuquerque as opposed to just 3-8-3 away from home. Former Hartford Athletic midfielder Harry Swartz signed with New Mexico in the offseason, but will not be available for the match after having season-ending surgery earlier this year.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Follow along on twitter @hfdathletic and #NMvHFD

Hartford Athletic and the CIAC announced today that the 2021 Boys and Girls Soccer State Championships will be held at Dillon Stadium. The eight championship matches will take place the weekend of November 20th with four matches happening on each day. 

"We are happy to announce that Dillon Stadium will host all eight Boys and Girls Soccer State Championship games this year,” said Gregg Simon, CIAC Associate Executive Director. “When we used Dillon Stadium for four state championship games in 2019, there was such a tremendous vibe. The kids come out of the locker room, into the tunnel, out on to the field, there's nothing quite like playing in a professional soccer stadium.” 

“Hartford Athletic is once again excited to host the CIAC Soccer State Championships at Dillon Stadium,” said Joe Calafiore, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategy for Hartford Athletic. “Dillon Stadium has once again become a hub for our community and serves as the perfect jewel event venue for the State Championships. Thank you to the CIAC for their partnership, and we cannot wait to see Connecticut’s top high school soccer programs take the field at Dillon in November.” 

Please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POeT0Q8ryNE for a video announcing Dillon as the CIAC’s host site for the state championships and the #DestinationDillon campaign. More information on state championship matches will follow in the coming weeks.  

Hartford Athletic and the CIAC announced today that the 2021 Boys and Girls Soccer State Championships will be held at Dillon Stadium. The eight championship matches will take place the weekend of November 20th with four matches happening on each day. 

“We are happy to announce that Dillon Stadium will host all eight Boys and Girls Soccer State Championship games this year,” said Gregg Simon, CIAC Associate Executive Director. “When we used Dillon Stadium for four state championship games in 2019, there was such a tremendous vibe. The kids come out of the locker room, into the tunnel, out on to the field, there’s nothing quite like playing in a professional soccer stadium.” 

“Hartford Athletic is once again excited to host the CIAC Soccer State Championships at Dillon Stadium,” said Joe Calafiore, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategy for Hartford Athletic. “Dillon Stadium has once again become a hub for our community and serves as the perfect jewel event venue for the State Championships. Thank you to the CIAC for their partnership, and we cannot wait to see Connecticut’s top high school soccer programs take the field at Dillon in November.” 

Please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POeT0Q8ryNE for a video announcing Dillon as the CIAC’s host site for the state championships and the #DestinationDillon campaign. More information on state championship matches will follow in the coming weeks.  

After allowing an early goal, Hartford Athletic did what they always do, climb back into the match. But on this night, as quickly as they climbed back in, they fell back out, losing to Charlotte Independence 2-1 in a crucial battle in the Atlantic Division playoff race. 

After a couple of early Hartford chances that went turned away by Charlotte goalkeeper Austin Pack, Charlotte opened the scoring. Enzo Martinez took a cross into the box, pinged a shot off of defender Nico Cardona, and volleyed the loose ball to the far post, past a diving Jeff Caldwell to take the early lead. Hartford generated a handful of chances but it took until late in the second half for the Boys in Green to break through. 

In the 81st minute, Younes Boudadi made a run up the right side with the ball. Dodging defenders, he cut in towards the box and was fouled just outside the box setting up a free kick. Who else but Danny Barrera stepped up to take it for the home side, curled a ball to the near post only for it to be headed in by a Charlotte defender for an own goal. Hartford had leveled the match! But just as quickly, Charlotte turned around and answered, with Dane Kelly scoring his 96th career goal to give Charlotte the lead.

Things got chippy in the final minutes with Charlotte defender Adam Armour assessed a Red Card. Hartford gave it everything they had over the final five minutes of stoppage time, but came up empty.

Hartford Athletic hit the road for three matches in a row. First up is a trip to Albuquerque to take on New Mexico United on Wednesday, October 6 at 9 PM. 

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford 17 (4) – 16 (4) Charlotte

Corners: Hartford 5-3 Charlotte

Fouls: Hartford 18-12 Charlotte

Offsides: Hartford 3-1 Charlotte

Possession: Hartford 44.7%-55.3% Charlotte

Passing Accuracy: Hartford 71.8%-80.8% Charlotte

Saves: Hartford 2-5 Charlotte

SCORING SUMMARY:

12' – Enzo Martinez 0-1

82' – Brandt Bronico (Own Goal) 1-1

83' – Dane Kelly (Enzo Martinez) 1-2

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

17' – Thomas Janjigian (Yellow)

44' – Justin Haak (Yellow)

48' – Dane Kelly (Yellow)

81' – Marcelo Palomino (Yellow)

86' – Younes Boudadi (Yellow)

88' – Christian Dean (Yellow)

90' – Sebastian Elney (Yellow)

90+1' – Adam Armour (Red)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 3 (DF) Younes Boudadi, 4 (DF) Nicolás Cardona, 20 (DF) Thomas Janjigian, 30 (DF) Ashkanov Apollon; 10 (MF) Danny Barrera, 80 (MF) Justin Haak (Kenan Hot, 68'), 11 (MF) Luka Prpa (Conor McGlynn, 31'); 14 (FW) Derek Dodson (Sebastian Elney, 58'), 29 (FW) Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., 23 (FW) Preston Tabort Etaka (Walmer Martinez, 68')

CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE STARTING LINEUP:

1 (GK) Austin Pack; 3 (DF) Hugh Roberts, 12 (DF) Adam Armour, 22 (DF) Christian Fuchs; 8 (MF) Marcelo Palomino, 13 (MF) Brandt Bronico, 16 (MF) Jose Bizama (Joel Johnson, 45'), 19 (MF) Enzo Martinez; 9 (FW) Irvin Parra (Dane Kelly, 37'), 32 (FW) Gabriel Obertan (Jake Areman, 76'), 56 (FW) Sylvain Marveaux (Kevin Reascos, 77')

After allowing an early goal, Hartford Athletic did what they always do, climb back into the match. But on this night, as quickly as they climbed back in, they fell back out, losing to Charlotte Independence 2-1 in a crucial battle in the Atlantic Division playoff race. 

After a couple of early Hartford chances that went turned away by Charlotte goalkeeper Austin Pack, Charlotte opened the scoring. Enzo Martinez took a cross into the box, pinged a shot off of defender Nico Cardona, and volleyed the loose ball to the far post, past a diving Jeff Caldwell to take the early lead. Hartford generated a handful of chances but it took until late in the second half for the Boys in Green to break through. 

In the 81st minute, Younes Boudadi made a run up the right side with the ball. Dodging defenders, he cut in towards the box and was fouled just outside the box setting up a free kick. Who else but Danny Barrera stepped up to take it for the home side, curled a ball to the near post only for it to be headed in by a Charlotte defender for an own goal. Hartford had leveled the match! But just as quickly, Charlotte turned around and answered, with Dane Kelly scoring his 96th career goal to give Charlotte the lead.

Things got chippy in the final minutes with Charlotte defender Adam Armour assessed a Red Card. Hartford gave it everything they had over the final five minutes of stoppage time, but came up empty.

Hartford Athletic hit the road for three matches in a row. First up is a trip to Albuquerque to take on New Mexico United on Wednesday, October 6 at 9 PM. 

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford 17 (4) – 16 (4) Charlotte

Corners: Hartford 5-3 Charlotte

Fouls: Hartford 18-12 Charlotte

Offsides: Hartford 3-1 Charlotte

Possession: Hartford 44.7%-55.3% Charlotte

Passing Accuracy: Hartford 71.8%-80.8% Charlotte

Saves: Hartford 2-5 Charlotte

SCORING SUMMARY:

12′ – Enzo Martinez 0-1

82′ – Brandt Bronico (Own Goal) 1-1

83′ – Dane Kelly (Enzo Martinez) 1-2

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

17′ – Thomas Janjigian (Yellow)

44′ – Justin Haak (Yellow)

48′ – Dane Kelly (Yellow)

81′ – Marcelo Palomino (Yellow)

86′ – Younes Boudadi (Yellow)

88′ – Christian Dean (Yellow)

90′ – Sebastian Elney (Yellow)

90+1′ – Adam Armour (Red)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 3 (DF) Younes Boudadi, 4 (DF) Nicolás Cardona, 20 (DF) Thomas Janjigian, 30 (DF) Ashkanov Apollon; 10 (MF) Danny Barrera, 80 (MF) Justin Haak (Kenan Hot, 68′), 11 (MF) Luka Prpa (Conor McGlynn, 31′); 14 (FW) Derek Dodson (Sebastian Elney, 58′), 29 (FW) Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., 23 (FW) Preston Tabort Etaka (Walmer Martinez, 68′)

CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE STARTING LINEUP:

1 (GK) Austin Pack; 3 (DF) Hugh Roberts, 12 (DF) Adam Armour, 22 (DF) Christian Fuchs; 8 (MF) Marcelo Palomino, 13 (MF) Brandt Bronico, 16 (MF) Jose Bizama (Joel Johnson, 45′), 19 (MF) Enzo Martinez; 9 (FW) Irvin Parra (Dane Kelly, 37′), 32 (FW) Gabriel Obertan (Jake Areman, 76′), 56 (FW) Sylvain Marveaux (Kevin Reascos, 77′)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (9-12-3) vs CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE (12-9-4)

Date: Thursday, September 30th

Time: 8:00 PM ET

Location: Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT

Promotion: $2 Beer, $2 Soda, $1 Hot Dog Night

Tickets: https://bit.ly/3myOkEu

Ticket and Noche Latina Scarf Package: https://fevo.me/nochelatina2021

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch

LAST TIME OUT:

A late goal from Danny Barrera broke Tampa Bay’s streak of over 800 minutes without conceding, but it was not enough as Hartford fell to division leaders Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 in front of a fantastic home crowd at Dillon Stadium. Tampa Bay's Sebastian Guenzatti scored twice, including at the first half's final whistle to take all 3 points for the visiting side.

NOCHE LATINA:

As part of Hispanic Heritage month, Hartford is excited to host the first ever Noche Latina match on Thursday night to celebrate the vibrant hispanic culture of the city Hartford as well as its surrounding towns. To celebrate the evening, Hartford Athletic will have Latin American food trucks on hand, flags and music from Latin American countries throughout the stadium, a performance from the Mariachi Academy of New England pregame, and new merchandise including the exclusive Noche Latina scarf for the evening. And don't forget it's $2 Beer, $2 Soda, $1 Hot Dog night!

PENALTY WOES:

During the 2021 USL Championship Season, Hartford have conceded 9 penalties, most in the league. However, Hartford goalie Jeff Caldwell has been more than up to the task. The former NYCFC first round draft pick has saved 5 of the 9 penalties he has faced this season, the most in the Championship. Time and time again, Jeff makes crucial saves in the most high-pressure moments

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (9-12-3) vs CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE (12-9-4)

Date: Thursday, September 30th

Time: 8:00 PM ET

Location: Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT

Promotion: $2 Beer, $2 Soda, $1 Hot Dog Night

Tickets: https://bit.ly/3myOkEu

Ticket and Noche Latina Scarf Package: https://fevo.me/nochelatina2021

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch

LAST TIME OUT:

A late goal from Danny Barrera broke Tampa Bay’s streak of over 800 minutes without conceding, but it was not enough as Hartford fell to division leaders Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 in front of a fantastic home crowd at Dillon Stadium. Tampa Bay’s Sebastian Guenzatti scored twice, including at the first half’s final whistle to take all 3 points for the visiting side.

NOCHE LATINA:

As part of Hispanic Heritage month, Hartford is excited to host the first ever Noche Latina match on Thursday night to celebrate the vibrant hispanic culture of the city Hartford as well as its surrounding towns. To celebrate the evening, Hartford Athletic will have Latin American food trucks on hand, flags and music from Latin American countries throughout the stadium, a performance from the Mariachi Academy of New England pregame, and new merchandise including the exclusive Noche Latina scarf for the evening. And don’t forget it’s $2 Beer, $2 Soda, $1 Hot Dog night!

PENALTY WOES:

During the 2021 USL Championship Season, Hartford have conceded 9 penalties, most in the league. However, Hartford goalie Jeff Caldwell has been more than up to the task. The former NYCFC first round draft pick has saved 5 of the 9 penalties he has faced this season, the most in the Championship. Time and time again, Jeff makes crucial saves in the most high-pressure moments

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Danny Barrera, MF, #10

After scoring a late winner against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Barrera has become the club’s all-time leading scorer with 12 goals, on top of already being the club’s all-time leading assister with 20. As a Colombian-American, Barrera will revel in the chance to display his talents at home for the Athletic faithful on Noche Latina.

Charlotte Independence, Sylvain Marveaux, FW, #56

When these two sides last met, Marveaux scored both of Charlotte’s goals to sink Hartford in Charlotte. He also registered an assist against Miami for their first goal of the match, which eventually ended in a 2-0 for the Independence. Sylvain will be eager to try and replicate his last display against Hartford this time out.

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Nii Armah Ashitey (Leg), Carlos Merancio (Knee)

Charlotte Independence:

None

ABOUT THE OPPONENT:

Charlotte have been on an impressive run of form in recent weeks, winning 4 of their last 5 matches. Charlotte come to Hartford off the back of a 2-1 loss to Birmingham Legion. Charlotte’s stellar form gives them a strong hold on the 4th play-off spot, with 5th place Charleston 9 points behind with just one game in hand. 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Follow along on twitter @hfdathletic and #HFDvCLT

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Danny Barrera, MF, #10

After scoring a late winner against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Barrera has become the club’s all-time leading scorer with 12 goals, on top of already being the club’s all-time leading assister with 20. As a Colombian-American, Barrera will revel in the chance to display his talents at home for the Athletic faithful on Noche Latina.

Charlotte Independence, Sylvain Marveaux, FW, #56

When these two sides last met, Marveaux scored both of Charlotte’s goals to sink Hartford in Charlotte. He also registered an assist against Miami for their first goal of the match, which eventually ended in a 2-0 for the Independence. Sylvain will be eager to try and replicate his last display against Hartford this time out.

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Nii Armah Ashitey (Leg), Carlos Merancio (Knee)

Charlotte Independence:

None

ABOUT THE OPPONENT:

Charlotte have been on an impressive run of form in recent weeks, winning 4 of their last 5 matches. Charlotte come to Hartford off the back of a 2-1 loss to Birmingham Legion. Charlotte’s stellar form gives them a strong hold on the 4th play-off spot, with 5th place Charleston 9 points behind with just one game in hand. 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Follow along on twitter @hfdathletic and #HFDvCLT

A late goal from Danny Barrera broke Tampa Bay's streak of over 800 minutes without conceding, but it was not enough as Hartford fell to division leaders Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 in front of a fantastic home crowd at Dillon Stadium. 

Tampa Bay opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Leo Fernandes worked his way into the box and hit a grounded cross to leading scorer Sebastian Guenzatti who tapped home a ball in front of net for the first goal of the evening. Tampa Bay would threaten to add another after Steevan Dos Santos was taken down in the box and given a penalty. But Jeff Caldwell made his fifth PK save of the season, this one with his trailing leg after Guenzatti tried to beat him to his right.

Hartford would have felt great about heading into the half only down a goal, but Guenzatti delivered for the visitors once again. In the final seconds of stoppage time, Fernandes headed a ball to Guenzatti who snuck in behind the back line and volleyed the ball over Caldwell and into the far corner of the net. The halftime whistle blew and the Rowdies took a 2-0 lead into the break. 

Hartford had chances to answer in the second half, including hitting both the crossbar and post on consecutive chances both within 60 seconds of each other, but seemingly everything was going Tampa Bay's way. Finally, in stoppage time, the Hartford attack clicked. Derek Dodson collected a loose ball in the box, fired a shot on net that was saved, got his own shot back, found Danny Barrera at the top of the 6 yard box who calmly slotted it into the upper left hand corner to cut the deficit to one. The goal was Barrera's seventh of the season, tying him for the lead on the season, and moving him past Alex Dixon for the club's all-time lead in goals scored (12). Hartford put one last push together before the final whistle was blown and Tampa Bay declared the victors.

Hartford Athletic return home on Thursday night for the club's first ever Noche Latina! Your Boys in Green will take on Charlotte Independence at 8 PM in a match with huge playoff implications. For tickets, please visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/single.

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford 12 (3) – 9 (5) Tampa Bay

Corners: Hartford 4-4 Tampa Bay

Fouls: Hartford 13-14 Tampa Bay

Offsides: Hartford 2-0 Tampa Bay

Possession: Hartford 59.2%-40.8% Tampa Bay

Passing Accuracy: Hartford 73.5%-69.1% Tampa Bay

Saves: Hartford 3-2 Tampa Bay

SCORING SUMMARY:

12' – Sebastian Guenzatti (Leo Fernandes) 0-1

45+2' – Guenzatti (Fernandes) 0-2

90+4' – Danny Barrera (Derek Dodson) 1-2

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

27' – Lewis Hilton (Yellow)

31' – Tulu (Yellow)

52' – Justin Haak (Yellow)

63' – Conor McGlynn (Yellow)

86' – Preston Tabort Etaka (Yellow)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 4 (DF) Nicolás Cardona, 15 (DF) Tulu, 20 (DF) Thomas Janjigian, 3 (DF) Younes Boudadi (Sebastian Elney, 78'); 10 (MF) Danny Barrera, 80 (MF) Justin Haak, 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn (Arthur Rogers, 66'); 24 (FW) Darwin Lom (Derek Dodson, 66'), 29 (FW) Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., 23 (FW) Preston Tabort Etaka

TAMPA BAY ROWDIES STARTING LINEUP:

1 (GK) Evan Louro; 3 (DF) Forrest Lasso, 5 (DF) Jordan Scarlett, 33 (DF) Aaron Guillen; 4 (MF) Lewis Hilton, 7 (MF) Yann Ekra (Max Lachowecki, 87'), 11 (MF) Leo Fernandes, 23 (MF) Sebastian Dalgaard, 27 (MF) Laurence Syke; 10 (FW) Steevan Dos Santos (Jordan Doherty, 87'), 13 (FW) Sebastian Guenzatti (Jordan Adebayo-Smith, 90+3')

A late goal from Danny Barrera broke Tampa Bay’s streak of over 800 minutes without conceding, but it was not enough as Hartford fell to division leaders Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 in front of a fantastic home crowd at Dillon Stadium. 

Tampa Bay opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Leo Fernandes worked his way into the box and hit a grounded cross to leading scorer Sebastian Guenzatti who tapped home a ball in front of net for the first goal of the evening. Tampa Bay would threaten to add another after Steevan Dos Santos was taken down in the box and given a penalty. But Jeff Caldwell made his fifth PK save of the season, this one with his trailing leg after Guenzatti tried to beat him to his right.

Hartford would have felt great about heading into the half only down a goal, but Guenzatti delivered for the visitors once again. In the final seconds of stoppage time, Fernandes headed a ball to Guenzatti who snuck in behind the back line and volleyed the ball over Caldwell and into the far corner of the net. The halftime whistle blew and the Rowdies took a 2-0 lead into the break. 

Hartford had chances to answer in the second half, including hitting both the crossbar and post on consecutive chances both within 60 seconds of each other, but seemingly everything was going Tampa Bay’s way. Finally, in stoppage time, the Hartford attack clicked. Derek Dodson collected a loose ball in the box, fired a shot on net that was saved, got his own shot back, found Danny Barrera at the top of the 6 yard box who calmly slotted it into the upper left hand corner to cut the deficit to one. The goal was Barrera’s seventh of the season, tying him for the lead on the season, and moving him past Alex Dixon for the club’s all-time lead in goals scored (12). Hartford put one last push together before the final whistle was blown and Tampa Bay declared the victors.

Hartford Athletic return home on Thursday night for the club’s first ever Noche Latina! Your Boys in Green will take on Charlotte Independence at 8 PM in a match with huge playoff implications. For tickets, please visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/single.

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford 12 (3) – 9 (5) Tampa Bay

Corners: Hartford 4-4 Tampa Bay

Fouls: Hartford 13-14 Tampa Bay

Offsides: Hartford 2-0 Tampa Bay

Possession: Hartford 59.2%-40.8% Tampa Bay

Passing Accuracy: Hartford 73.5%-69.1% Tampa Bay

Saves: Hartford 3-2 Tampa Bay

SCORING SUMMARY:

12′ – Sebastian Guenzatti (Leo Fernandes) 0-1

45+2′ – Guenzatti (Fernandes) 0-2

90+4′ – Danny Barrera (Derek Dodson) 1-2

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

27′ – Lewis Hilton (Yellow)

31′ – Tulu (Yellow)

52′ – Justin Haak (Yellow)

63′ – Conor McGlynn (Yellow)

86′ – Preston Tabort Etaka (Yellow)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 4 (DF) Nicolás Cardona, 15 (DF) Tulu, 20 (DF) Thomas Janjigian, 3 (DF) Younes Boudadi (Sebastian Elney, 78′); 10 (MF) Danny Barrera, 80 (MF) Justin Haak, 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn (Arthur Rogers, 66′); 24 (FW) Darwin Lom (Derek Dodson, 66′), 29 (FW) Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., 23 (FW) Preston Tabort Etaka

TAMPA BAY ROWDIES STARTING LINEUP:

1 (GK) Evan Louro; 3 (DF) Forrest Lasso, 5 (DF) Jordan Scarlett, 33 (DF) Aaron Guillen; 4 (MF) Lewis Hilton, 7 (MF) Yann Ekra (Max Lachowecki, 87′), 11 (MF) Leo Fernandes, 23 (MF) Sebastian Dalgaard, 27 (MF) Laurence Syke; 10 (FW) Steevan Dos Santos (Jordan Doherty, 87′), 13 (FW) Sebastian Guenzatti (Jordan Adebayo-Smith, 90+3′)

Hartford Athletic has acquired Forward Ashkanov Apollon for the remainder of the 2021 season pending league and federation approval.  This signing was completed prior to the USL Championship's Friday roster freeze deadline.

Apollon joins Hartford from San Diego 1904 where he scored one goal in five appearances during the NISA Fall season, playing mostly as a Forward. During the last international window, he received a call up to the Haitian National team and competed in friendlies against Bahrain and Jordan alongside Athletic Forward Sebastian Elney. During the 2020 season, Apollon competed with USL Championship club Sacramento Republic FC where he played mostly as a left back or left winger.  

"We’re very excited to bring in Ash as we make our final playoff push,” said Hartford Athletic Head Coach Harry Watling. “Ash brings a wealth of experience to the squad, both from club and international competition. He is an incredibly versatile player who can make an impact at every level of the pitch and that is what he will be asked to do over the remainder of the season.” 

Apollon will not be available for tonight’s match against Tampa Bay Rowdies. Fans interested in purchasing tickets to tonight’s match should visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/single. 

Hartford Athletic has acquired Forward Ashkanov Apollon for the remainder of the 2021 season pending league and federation approval.  This signing was completed prior to the USL Championship’s Friday roster freeze deadline.

Apollon joins Hartford from San Diego 1904 where he scored one goal in five appearances during the NISA Fall season, playing mostly as a Forward. During the last international window, he received a call up to the Haitian National team and competed in friendlies against Bahrain and Jordan alongside Athletic Forward Sebastian Elney. During the 2020 season, Apollon competed with USL Championship club Sacramento Republic FC where he played mostly as a left back or left winger.  

“We’re very excited to bring in Ash as we make our final playoff push,” said Hartford Athletic Head Coach Harry Watling. “Ash brings a wealth of experience to the squad, both from club and international competition. He is an incredibly versatile player who can make an impact at every level of the pitch and that is what he will be asked to do over the remainder of the season.” 

Apollon will not be available for tonight’s match against Tampa Bay Rowdies. Fans interested in purchasing tickets to tonight’s match should visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/single. 

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (9-11-3) vs TAMPA BAY ROWDIES (17-6-1)

Date: Saturday, September 25th

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT

Tickets: https://bit.ly/3dKEgUJ

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch

LAST TIME OUT:

In desperate need of 3 points, Hartford Athletic took care of business on home turf, defeating Real Monarchs 2-0 for their ninth win of the season. In the 30th minute, the Boys in Green broke through. Danny Barrera played a beautiful ball through to Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. who smashed it to the back of the net for the opening goal of the match. In the 83rd minute, Luka Prpa hit a ball to the near post, Obregón Jr. made a beautiful run to it and the ball found the back of the net after glancing off defender Daniel Flores. The own-goal doubled Hartford’s lead and the Boys would never look back. 

THE CAMEROONIAN WONDER:

One of the season’s brightest spots in attack has been Forward Preston Tabort Etaka. Preston contributes both as a goal scorer where he has four, third best on the squad, and with assists where he has five, second most on the team behind Barrera. Preston’s five assists are already good for second best all-time in club history, tied with Gabi Torres. Preston’s speed is always a mismatch no matter which side of the pitch he’s on and Head Coach Harry Watling has done a nice job exploiting that so far.

MATCH FOR A CAUSE:

Saturday’s match is the third edition of the Match for a Cause presented by Stanley Black & Decker. In two years, Hartford and Stanley have combined to raise over $25,000 for Girls for Technology and Boys and Girls Club of Hartford. Hartford will wear special all-black kits for the match and will auction match-worn kits off to benefit The Legacy Foundation of Hartford which is focused on addressing disparities in health and education. On the pitch, Hartford has a record of 1-0-1 on Match for a Cause night, including a 5-1 win over Loudoun United in 2019.

FROM THE GAFFER:

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (9-11-3) vs TAMPA BAY ROWDIES (17-6-1)

Date: Saturday, September 25th

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT

Tickets: https://bit.ly/3dKEgUJ

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or https://www.hartfordathletic.com/watch

LAST TIME OUT:

In desperate need of 3 points, Hartford Athletic took care of business on home turf, defeating Real Monarchs 2-0 for their ninth win of the season. In the 30th minute, the Boys in Green broke through. Danny Barrera played a beautiful ball through to Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. who smashed it to the back of the net for the opening goal of the match. In the 83rd minute, Luka Prpa hit a ball to the near post, Obregón Jr. made a beautiful run to it and the ball found the back of the net after glancing off defender Daniel Flores. The own-goal doubled Hartford’s lead and the Boys would never look back. 

THE CAMEROONIAN WONDER:

One of the season’s brightest spots in attack has been Forward Preston Tabort Etaka. Preston contributes both as a goal scorer where he has four, third best on the squad, and with assists where he has five, second most on the team behind Barrera. Preston’s five assists are already good for second best all-time in club history, tied with Gabi Torres. Preston’s speed is always a mismatch no matter which side of the pitch he’s on and Head Coach Harry Watling has done a nice job exploiting that so far.

MATCH FOR A CAUSE:

Saturday’s match is the third edition of the Match for a Cause presented by Stanley Black & Decker. In two years, Hartford and Stanley have combined to raise over $25,000 for Girls for Technology and Boys and Girls Club of Hartford. Hartford will wear special all-black kits for the match and will auction match-worn kits off to benefit The Legacy Foundation of Hartford which is focused on addressing disparities in health and education. On the pitch, Hartford has a record of 1-0-1 on Match for a Cause night, including a 5-1 win over Loudoun United in 2019.

FROM THE GAFFER:

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., FW, #29

Three matchups between these teams in 2021 have all ended 1-0. Obregón had two quality chances that could have made it 2-1 Hartford in the first matchup and it was Forward Derek Dodson who scored on a counter in the second matchup, a 1-0 win for Hartford. It's clear that past game plans have placed an emphasis on setting up Forwards to attack the Tampa Bay center backs and it will likely be JC who's name is called to do that on Saturday night.

Tampa Bay Rowdies, Evan Louro, GK, #1

The Rowdies keeper is on the streak of a lifetime, he hasn't allowed a goal since August 6th, a 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls II. In that time he's posted 8 consecutive clean sheets, including a 1-0 win over Hartford on August 13th. At home and desperate for a win, you can expect Hartford will do their best to throw an endless barrage of shots at Louro and end the scoreless streak.

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Nii Armah Ashitey (Leg), Carlos Merancio (Knee)

Tampa Bay Rowdies:

Out: Luis Fernando

Questionable: Max Lachowecki

ABOUT THE OPPONENT:

Hartford and Tampa Bay Rowdies meet for the fourth and final time this regular season. The Rowdies hold a 2-1 edge in the season series. Every match this season has ended with a final score of 1-0, with Tampa Bay winning the first and third matches of the series. Hartford won the first matchup on the road in Tampa Bay on July 13th, outlasting a seemingly endless Rowdies attack that got off 21 shots. The visitors come into the match in incredible form, the club hasn’t allowed a goal since August 6th and have taken hold of first place in the Atlantic Division with 52 points, 5 clear of second place Pittsburgh.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Follow along on twitter @hfdathletic and #HFDvTBR

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., FW, #29

Three matchups between these teams in 2021 have all ended 1-0. Obregón had two quality chances that could have made it 2-1 Hartford in the first matchup and it was Forward Derek Dodson who scored on a counter in the second matchup, a 1-0 win for Hartford. It’s clear that past game plans have placed an emphasis on setting up Forwards to attack the Tampa Bay center backs and it will likely be JC who’s name is called to do that on Saturday night.

Tampa Bay Rowdies, Evan Louro, GK, #1

The Rowdies keeper is on the streak of a lifetime, he hasn’t allowed a goal since August 6th, a 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls II. In that time he’s posted 8 consecutive clean sheets, including a 1-0 win over Hartford on August 13th. At home and desperate for a win, you can expect Hartford will do their best to throw an endless barrage of shots at Louro and end the scoreless streak.

INJURY REPORT:

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Nii Armah Ashitey (Leg), Carlos Merancio (Knee)

Tampa Bay Rowdies:

Out: Luis Fernando

Questionable: Max Lachowecki

ABOUT THE OPPONENT:

Hartford and Tampa Bay Rowdies meet for the fourth and final time this regular season. The Rowdies hold a 2-1 edge in the season series. Every match this season has ended with a final score of 1-0, with Tampa Bay winning the first and third matches of the series. Hartford won the first matchup on the road in Tampa Bay on July 13th, outlasting a seemingly endless Rowdies attack that got off 21 shots. The visitors come into the match in incredible form, the club hasn’t allowed a goal since August 6th and have taken hold of first place in the Atlantic Division with 52 points, 5 clear of second place Pittsburgh.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Follow along on twitter @hfdathletic and #HFDvTBR

Hartford Athletic has signed Goalkeeper Matt Lampson for the remainder of the 2021 season pending league and federation approval.  

Over an eight-year career, Lampson totaled 61 appearances in MLS for Columbus Crew, Chicago Fire, Minnesota United, and LA Galaxy. Lampson also had two stints on loan in the USL playing with Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Charlotte Independence in 2015. Matt is the second homegrown player in Columbus history and after returning to the Crew in 2020, was part of the roster that won the MLS Cup. 

"We are delighted to bring in Matt, a player with great experience at a high level," said Hartford Athletic Head Coach Harry Watling. "Matt has been training with us for a few days and has already made a massive impact on the group. We're really happy to have him in to push Jeff (Caldwell) and to continue to drive the standards we've set."

Lampson is the third player who joins Hartford Athletic with ties to Columbus Crew. In 2019, midfielder Luis Argudo and goalkeeper Jon Kempin joined Hartford on loan from the Crew. Backup goalkeeper Carlos Merancio will miss the remainder of the season after a knee injury suffered in the September 4th match against New York Red Bulls II. 

Hartford Athletic are back at Dillon Stadium on Saturday night against Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7 PM. Visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/single to purchase tickets. 

Hartford Athletic has signed Goalkeeper Matt Lampson for the remainder of the 2021 season pending league and federation approval.  

Over an eight-year career, Lampson totaled 61 appearances in MLS for Columbus Crew, Chicago Fire, Minnesota United, and LA Galaxy. Lampson also had two stints on loan in the USL playing with Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Charlotte Independence in 2015. Matt is the second homegrown player in Columbus history and after returning to the Crew in 2020, was part of the roster that won the MLS Cup. 

“We are delighted to bring in Matt, a player with great experience at a high level,” said Hartford Athletic Head Coach Harry Watling. “Matt has been training with us for a few days and has already made a massive impact on the group. We’re really happy to have him in to push Jeff (Caldwell) and to continue to drive the standards we’ve set.”

Lampson is the third player who joins Hartford Athletic with ties to Columbus Crew. In 2019, midfielder Luis Argudo and goalkeeper Jon Kempin joined Hartford on loan from the Crew. Backup goalkeeper Carlos Merancio will miss the remainder of the season after a knee injury suffered in the September 4th match against New York Red Bulls II. 

Hartford Athletic are back at Dillon Stadium on Saturday night against Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7 PM. Visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/single to purchase tickets. 

It’s the waning stages of the 2021 USL Championship season and Hartford Athletic is making a final push to vault themselves back into the playoff discussion.  Goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell has been an integral part of the dynamic for the Boys in Green and is the x-factor for a team looking to string wins together down the stretch.  His swift reflexes and acrobatic saves are a thing of beauty, sacrificing his body at all times to keep the opposition off the scoresheet.  He’s had a long journey to reach this form, but he’s only scaled the tip of the iceberg in a career destined for longevity and success.

“I started playing [in] goal at the age of four and that’s [the position] I’ve always been”, Caldwell, 25, said.  “I took after my older sister who was a great goalie and super aggressive.  She would always throw herself at people’s feet so I did the same, and I’ve loved it ever since.”

Born in Todd, North Carolina, Caldwell’s life from a young age revolved around soccer.  He was invited to many Olympic Development Program (ODP) camps at the state, regional and national levels, which served as a path to play for the U.S Youth National Team.  While playing with North Carolina Fusion, Caldwell shined and got the call to attend his first U17 National Team camp in Los Angeles, California on trial.  He left a good enough impression to stay with the program for a year, racking up nearly 20 caps to his credit and playing in the qualifiers for the U-17 World Cup.    

Following multiple trials in the U.S and Europe, Caldwell ultimately decided to attend the University of Virginia.  He served as the backup his freshman year on a Cavaliers squad that won the national championship in 2014 and later became the first UVA goalkeeper to earn All ACC Honors three times.  

“I loved every bit of my time at UVA”, Caldwell said.  “I still go back to Charlottesville to spend my offseasons and train.  I wouldn’t trade the relationships and experiences I had as a student and athlete at the university for anything.” 

Upon graduating, the North Carolina native was selected by NYCFC with the 19th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.  He spent two years behind goalkeeper Sean Johnson and current Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver.  Caldwell learned the ins and outs of what it takes to be an elite professional and became very close on a personal level with them off the pitch as well.

“Those guys set the standard so high all the time”, Caldwell said.  “Brad’s finally gotten his opportunity to be an MLS [starting goalie] with Austin [FC] and has absolutely smashed it.  Sean’s been a mainstay as one of the best keepers in the [MLS] for a number of years and was very generous in terms of sharing his knowledge of the game with me.”

In March of 2019, Caldwell was loaned to USL Championship side Memphis 901 to be their starting goalkeeper for the season.  It would be the first time in his professional career that he was getting in-game reps, and he maintained the #1 position throughout.  In 28 games for the brand new expansion team, Caldwell had 80 saves and six clean sheets, flashing potential that the UVA alum was more than capable of handling starting duties.  It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but his craft improved exponentially and he came away learning a lot more than when he first arrived in that locker room.

“I had some early success and then hit some lumps where I actually went back to NYCFC for a month in the middle of the season”, Caldwell said.  “It slowed the momentum down a little bit from a game front but I came away with a lot of valuable lessons, especially how to manage a 30 plus game campaign.  It was a phenomenal experience overall.”

Caldwell packed his bags and returned back to the MLS when the New England Revolution selected him in the MLS Waiver Draft.  He would be the third-choice keeper for a team that includes U.S. National Team goalkeeper Matt Turner.  Unfortunately, COVID-19 struck not long after the start of the 2020 season, but in his short time there, Caldwell had an incredible mentor that gave him a blueprint of how to be great in one of the world’s top leagues.  

“I was really fortunate to work with another unbelievable goalkeeper, [Matt Turner]”, Caldwell said.  “He’s a great technician in terms of his craft and makes plays consistently that guys would normally make a few times in their career.”

Weighing his options in the 2021 offseason,  Caldwell was intrigued by the young, hungry, and driven culture Hartford was building.  He signed with the club in January as the expected workhorse in net for Athletic and hasn’t relinquished his spot since.  Caldwell’s play has been nothing short of spectacular, making jaw-dropping saves daily that attract eyeballs from across the American soccer universe.  Whether it’s his sprawling saves on point-blank opportunities, tipping on screamers outside the box, or cat-like reflexes on penalties, Caldwell is a massive fan favorite to the green and blue faithful and has been a poised, respected leader in the locker room with his teammates. 

“My goals coming here were to never concede, which obviously can’t always happen but it’s something I shoot for every game, and to be consistent”, Caldwell said.  “After a year of not playing, I’ve worked extremely hard to get my game back on track so I can put the team in a position to win games every time we step onto the field.”

Caldwell has the second-most saves in the USL Championship with 92 and tied for the fourth-most clean sheets with six.  At just 25 years old, he has no plans of slowing down and hopes to continue his ascent up the ranks in the future.

“Like any good professional, I just want to get better at my craft”, Caldwell said. “I hope to apply my skills at the highest levels possible and just take each game and season one at a time.” 

It’s the waning stages of the 2021 USL Championship season and Hartford Athletic is making a final push to vault themselves back into the playoff discussion.  Goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell has been an integral part of the dynamic for the Boys in Green and is the x-factor for a team looking to string wins together down the stretch.  His swift reflexes and acrobatic saves are a thing of beauty, sacrificing his body at all times to keep the opposition off the scoresheet.  He’s had a long journey to reach this form, but he’s only scaled the tip of the iceberg in a career destined for longevity and success.

“I started playing [in] goal at the age of four and that’s [the position] I’ve always been”, Caldwell, 25, said.  “I took after my older sister who was a great goalie and super aggressive.  She would always throw herself at people’s feet so I did the same, and I’ve loved it ever since.”

Born in Todd, North Carolina, Caldwell’s life from a young age revolved around soccer.  He was invited to many Olympic Development Program (ODP) camps at the state, regional and national levels, which served as a path to play for the U.S Youth National Team.  While playing with North Carolina Fusion, Caldwell shined and got the call to attend his first U17 National Team camp in Los Angeles, California on trial.  He left a good enough impression to stay with the program for a year, racking up nearly 20 caps to his credit and playing in the qualifiers for the U-17 World Cup.    

Following multiple trials in the U.S and Europe, Caldwell ultimately decided to attend the University of Virginia.  He served as the backup his freshman year on a Cavaliers squad that won the national championship in 2014 and later became the first UVA goalkeeper to earn All ACC Honors three times.  

“I loved every bit of my time at UVA”, Caldwell said.  “I still go back to Charlottesville to spend my offseasons and train.  I wouldn’t trade the relationships and experiences I had as a student and athlete at the university for anything.” 

Upon graduating, the North Carolina native was selected by NYCFC with the 19th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.  He spent two years behind goalkeeper Sean Johnson and current Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver.  Caldwell learned the ins and outs of what it takes to be an elite professional and became very close on a personal level with them off the pitch as well.

“Those guys set the standard so high all the time”, Caldwell said.  “Brad’s finally gotten his opportunity to be an MLS [starting goalie] with Austin [FC] and has absolutely smashed it.  Sean’s been a mainstay as one of the best keepers in the [MLS] for a number of years and was very generous in terms of sharing his knowledge of the game with me.”

In March of 2019, Caldwell was loaned to USL Championship side Memphis 901 to be their starting goalkeeper for the season.  It would be the first time in his professional career that he was getting in-game reps, and he maintained the #1 position throughout.  In 28 games for the brand new expansion team, Caldwell had 80 saves and six clean sheets, flashing potential that the UVA alum was more than capable of handling starting duties.  It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but his craft improved exponentially and he came away learning a lot more than when he first arrived in that locker room.

“I had some early success and then hit some lumps where I actually went back to NYCFC for a month in the middle of the season”, Caldwell said.  “It slowed the momentum down a little bit from a game front but I came away with a lot of valuable lessons, especially how to manage a 30 plus game campaign.  It was a phenomenal experience overall.”

Caldwell packed his bags and returned back to the MLS when the New England Revolution selected him in the MLS Waiver Draft.  He would be the third-choice keeper for a team that includes U.S. National Team goalkeeper Matt Turner.  Unfortunately, COVID-19 struck not long after the start of the 2020 season, but in his short time there, Caldwell had an incredible mentor that gave him a blueprint of how to be great in one of the world’s top leagues.  

“I was really fortunate to work with another unbelievable goalkeeper, [Matt Turner]”, Caldwell said.  “He’s a great technician in terms of his craft and makes plays consistently that guys would normally make a few times in their career.”

Weighing his options in the 2021 offseason,  Caldwell was intrigued by the young, hungry, and driven culture Hartford was building.  He signed with the club in January as the expected workhorse in net for Athletic and hasn’t relinquished his spot since.  Caldwell’s play has been nothing short of spectacular, making jaw-dropping saves daily that attract eyeballs from across the American soccer universe.  Whether it’s his sprawling saves on point-blank opportunities, tipping on screamers outside the box, or cat-like reflexes on penalties, Caldwell is a massive fan favorite to the green and blue faithful and has been a poised, respected leader in the locker room with his teammates. 

“My goals coming here were to never concede, which obviously can’t always happen but it’s something I shoot for every game, and to be consistent”, Caldwell said.  “After a year of not playing, I’ve worked extremely hard to get my game back on track so I can put the team in a position to win games every time we step onto the field.”

Caldwell has the second-most saves in the USL Championship with 92 and tied for the fourth-most clean sheets with six.  At just 25 years old, he has no plans of slowing down and hopes to continue his ascent up the ranks in the future.

“Like any good professional, I just want to get better at my craft”, Caldwell said. “I hope to apply my skills at the highest levels possible and just take each game and season one at a time.”