Hartford Athletic Continue Search for 1st Win of 2023
Hartford Athletic Continue Search for 1st Win of 2023
The Green and Blue are set to return to Trinity Health Stadium following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Birmingham last week.
Hartford Athletic will have another opportunity to get their first three points of the 2023 USL Championship season on Saturday, set to host a first-ever meeting with Orange County SC at Trinity Health Stadium for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
The Green and Blue are coming off a narrow 1-0 loss to Birmingham Legion FC in their home opener last week, putting up a season-high 14 shots despite not being able to find the back of the net through 90 minutes. The loss was Hartford’s second of the season in just three games.
The game will serve as the first test on the road through the opening four games for Orange County, who also come to Hartford in search of their first win of 2023. After dropping their season opener to 2022 runners-up Louisville City back on March 11th, they then settled for a pair of draws against the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the Las Vegas Lights to round out a 0-1-2 record through their first three games. Similarly to Hartford, Orange County have been outscored through their opening fixtures, finding the back of the net four times in three games.
Two of those goals came off the boot of Alex Villanueva and 2022 Golden Boot winner Milan Iloski in last week’s 2-2 draw vs. Las Vegas. It was Iloski’s first goal of 2023 and he was also credited with the bicycle kick assist for Villeneuva’s first Orange County goal just four minutes earlier.
Iloski scored a club-record 22 goals in 2022 en route to the USL Championship Golden Boot award.
“If you’re in the league, you kind of know about him [Iloski] and stuff, obviously being a golden boot winner is no easy feat, especially after the season they had last year,” Hartford captain Niall Logue said. “He’s a top player, he’s a target of ours, he’s highlighted that he’s gonna be a player that’s going to create things…It’s kind of up to us as defenders to close him down and keep him quiet for most of the game.”
“They’re a very skillful team,” Hartford head coach Tab Ramos added. “If you give them time on the ball they can definitely play and they can hurt you. For us, we’re gonna have to make this game be high-intensity, fast-speed, fast-moving, transitions both ways. If we can make this a fast game, I think we have the best shot to win.”
As for Hartford, they are still looking for their first goal in front of the home fans after a narrow loss to Birmingham last week. Their last goal came two weeks ago in Colorado, where Elvis Amoh’s point-blank header was enough to see Hartford earn their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw vs. the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.
The Green and Blue have shown improved defensive discipline through their opening three games, but have lacked execution in the final third, not having tallied multiple goals since their season-opening 5-3 loss to Monterey Bay in early March.
Hartford will be strengthened by the return of Tristan Hodge (Trinidad and Tobago) and Kyle Edwards (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) on Saturday, who were both away on international duty last week for this month’s set of Concacaf Nations League fixtures. Hodge started both of Hartford’s opening two games at left back before departing for his national team, making two appearances for his country during the break. As for Edwards, the forward scored a pair of goals from the penalty spot in two games for his country during the Nations League window.
“To be honest, I was tired,” Edwards said following his first training session back in Hartford after the international window. “But I think I’m very excited to be back with the boys, so that adrenaline had me going, so it felt good…I just can’t wait to play games and score some goals for this team.”
Despite gaining two players back, the home side is still without two key starters in the midfield. Andre Lewis will remain out after being stretchered off the field with a head injury vs. Colorado and Hartford will also be missing Kembo Kibato after he came out of the game in the second half on Saturday vs. Birmingham with a foot injury.
Despite a tough stretch of results in their first three games, Logue said the team morale has remained positive and focused heading into Saturday.
“Honestly, it’s just kind of keeping a level head in the changing room, it’s still early doors, obviously,” Logue said. “We’re only three games in, that’s not the result we wanted, but I felt like we were definitely in the games if not probably the better team in most of the games…The most important [thing] is just keeping a good spirit, having good training sessions, reflecting as well.”
Kickoff from Trinity Health Stadium is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday on WCTX MyTV9 and ESPN+.