"My team made great strides this season and I'm proud of the way we played," said NU head coach Ed Matz. "Hartford beat us here 3-0 earlier this season and they proved again tonight just how tough they are. There is no room for error. They will capitalize on mistakes. We were a little shorthanded tonight, which didn't help, but I give credit to Hartford, they are very talented."

The Huskies were minus some team members who missed the game due to illness, including freshman Jess Pfeifer, whose 17 points tied for the team lead in the regular season.

The Hawks showed why they have won nine of the last 12 regular season America East championships, coming right out and getting on the board just 3:49 into the contest. Senior Katharina Linder, the America East Offensive Player of the Year, took a long lead pass up the right side and beat her defender one-on-one. Husky goalkeeper Cynthia Slowik came out to try to make a play, but Linder dribbled around her to the left and sent it into the vacated net.

Just under 12 minutes later the Hawks would strike again to go up 2-0. Senior Annika Michaels took a throw-in deep in Northeastern territory, sending it right to Linder. Linder then centered the ball in front of the NU net that junior Jeanette Akerlund gathered and deposited into the back of the goal. The second goal has been a key all season for Hartford, as the Hawks are now 13-1 this year when scoring at least twice.

Linder tallied her second goal of the game at the 24:20 mark to wrap up the scoring in the first half. Sophomore Malin Engman centered a pass that junior Cindy Walsh proceeded to one-touch to Linder in front of the net. The redirected pass caught Slowik out of position and Linder slid it home.

Northeastern had its best scoring opportunity with three minutes to go in the first half when sophomore Jen North headed a ball directly to senior Kelly Smith, who booted it off the bounce just wide of the Hartford goal. The Huskies were outshot 21-5, as Hartford continued its shot total dominance with a 352-124 advantage for the season.

Hartford continued to put the pressure on Slowik in the second half, but neither team could convert. Slowik made seven saves for the Huskies while Hartford netminder Heather Hinton recorded two saves, after being rarely challenged due to a solid Hawk backline.

Scoring
First Half:
UH - Katharina Linder 3:49
UH - Jeanette Akerlund (Katharina Linder, Annika Michaels)15:30
UH - Jeanette Akerlund (Cindy Walsh, Malin Engman) 24:20

Second Half:
No Scoring

Shots
Northeastern, 5
Hartford, 21

Corner Kicks
Northeastern, 2
Hartford, 4

Offsides
Northeastern, 2
Hartford, 12

Fouls
Northeastern, 8
Hartford, 21