LOWELL, Mass. -- Freshman Kristin Birgisdottir (Mofsfellsbaer, Iceland) scored her first goal of her career, but the River Hawks fell short to the Hartford Hawks in their conference opener, 2-1.

"I thought that we played well enough overall to create enough chances," commented Women's Soccer Head Coach Francesco D'Agostino. "We created enough chances and were in their [Hartford] half a decent amount, but if you don't execute the simple things - the crossing, the finishing, getting it across to the goal keeper - you don't win. It was a game of mistakes, we just made too many more than they [Hartford] did."

Senior Laura Gagnon (Millville, Mass.) registered the first shot in the 11th minute that was contested by the goalkeeper and went wide.

Hartford would find the back of the net first in the 21st minute off a shot from the top of the box from Sierra Stone that was just over the reach of the River Hawk keeper to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The Hawks scored six minutes later in the 27th minute, when Bridgette Alexander took advantage of a miscue from the River Hawk defense and found the back of an empty net to give them a 2-0 lead early.

Still in the 27th minute, Rachel Morrier (Plaistow, N.H.) would get a beautiful ball from Kristina Schneider (Bridgewater, Mass.) as she split through the defense and chipped the ball over the Hartford goalkeeper and into the back of the net, however, an offsides call would negate the goal.

The River Hawks would find the back of the net in the 31st minute. A free kick was awarded 25 yards from the net that Morrier sniped on goal, but the goalie was there to make the save, but the rebound found Birgisdottir who found the back of the net to inch the River Hawks closer at 2-1.

The second half saw the River Hawks try to even the score, but the Hartford keeper was there to make three saves on shots by Elle Cooper (Hastings, Minn.), Emily Duchesne (Hooksett, N.H.), and Jaymee Luke (Las Vegas, Nev.) to keep the Hawks in front the rest of the way. 

Hartford's Maia Perez stopped six shots in the contest, while Julia Schneider (Bridgewater, Mass.) did not stop a shot.

Hartford held the advantage in shots, 13-11, while each team had three corners in the game.

The River Hawks return to action on Thursday, September 28th when they travel to face Stony Brook for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.