COLTS LOOK TO CONTINUE THEIR WINNING WAYS ON SATURDAY AT KINGSTON STOCKADE

Hartford, Conn. – With only three matches to go in the 2024 NPSL Regular Season, Hartford City FC (4-2-1, 13 points) will take their two-match winning streak on the road to square off against their long-time rivals Kingston Stockade FC (1-5-1, 4 points) on Saturday evening at 6pm.

MATCH INFORMATION

Saturday’s match will be played at Tenney Stadium on the campus of Marist College (3399 North Road, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601), and tickets are available on their website (stockadefc.com/tickets), with adult tickets going for $10 and kids at $5.

Fans who cannot make the match in person can follow along via a free live stream at either stockadefc.com/live or by searching Kingston Stockade FC on YouTube.

LAST TIME OUT

Hartford City took a big step in their quest to catch the North Atlantic Conference leading New York Shockers last Sunday with a 2-0 win at Trinity Health Stadium. In a first half that didn’t have many chances, New York thought that they took the lead in the 7^th minute when Adel Cekic’s free kick bounced past everyone into the back of the net, but the referee ruled the goal out for a foul inside the box before the ball crossed the goal line. The Shockers almost took the lead again on the stroke of halftime when Mohamed Soumah caught his bicycle kick effort cleanly from a corner kick, only to miss the corner by inches.

The Colts came out firing to start the second half by forcing a save out of New York’s goalie Tyler Brennan on Noah Silverman’s tight angle chance within the first two minutes. The hosts continued pressure would net them a goal in the 55^th minute as Griffin Tomas cleared away a Shockers free kick inside his own penalty area in the direction of Silverman. He would go then on a 70-yard solo run, bypassing a pair of Shockers defenders and slotted his shot past Brennan. HCFC nearly doubled their lead straight from kickoff as Brennan cleared a ball straight to the feet of Parker Vasic just outside the penalty area, who then unselfishly laid it off to Evan Southern, only to see Brennan make amends for the giveaway with a one-on-one save.

The one-goal advantage became two as Jake Williams was fouled just outside the penalty area and the Colts’ captain stepped up and delivered a majestic curler around the wall and flew past the goalies right to double Hartford City’s lead. The Colts could have had a third when Williams was fouled inside the box but Brennan denied his spot kick attempt to keep it a 2-0 game.

WHERE THINGS STAND IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE

 With Hartford City’s win last Sunday, it allowed the Colts to climb to within three points of the conference leading Shockers, who remain at 16 points to HCFC’s 13. The day before, Valeo FC knocked off Syracuse FC at home with a 48^th minute winner from Jason Hrkach and New Jersey United traveled to Tenney Stadium and came away with a 1-0 victory over Kingston Stockade. Diego Navas scored the winner in that game with thirty minutes to go, putting him tied for second in the conference with three goals, alongside his teammate Khaled Daoud.

NJ United AC currently sit in third with 12 points, just one point behind Hartford City and three points ahead of Syracuse FC, who they will host on Sunday. With their win last weekend, Valeo FC move up to seven points and could jump as high as fourth with a win over the Shockers on Saturday.

ABOUT OUR OPPONENT

 It has been a challenging season for Kingston Stockade FC, as they currently sit in last place in the conference with just four points and are eight points behind New Jersey in third and five points behind Syracuse in fourth. Meaning anything shy of a win on Saturday will all but likely eliminate the team from postseason play.

Kingston is wrapping up a five-match homestand this weekend and the only points they’ve gained during that stretch at home came on a 2-0 victory over Valeo FC on June 8^th when Richard Morel, who is a rising senior at Marist College, scored a pair of goals en route to the teams’ first positive result since their Opening Day 1-1 draw at Valeo back on May 4^th. That winning performance was the strongest offensive output the club have had this year since the 3-2 loss at Hartford City back on May 18^th when Jonathan Salguero and Hugo Guerra found the back of the net in the losing effort.

June 24 at 1:02 pm