Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook men's soccer team (9-6-3, 4-2-1) battled back from a 1-0 deficit to tie the match with nine minutes to play, only to give up a goal five minutes later, falling to Hartford in the America East semifinals 2-1.

Anatol's Reaction
 
"Obviously a disappointing loss tonight but give Hartford full credit for playing a good match," said head coach Ryan Anatol. "I am proud of the way our team battled back to tie the game. It showed the heart and character they displayed all year long. This was a process that started in January and the guys worked to put themselves in position to win a championship. I feel for our three seniors who have done so much for our program, but we return a lot next season and will continue to work and build on the progress we made this fall."

Highlights

• Junior goalkeeper Tom McMahon (Nassau Bay, Texas) made his best save of the night in the eighth minute, getting down low to stop a shot by Jeff Tryon from 10 yards out. 
• Stony Brook and Hartford remained scoreless until the match took a turn in the final minute of the first half. After Stony Brook was whistled for a foul, Hartford delivered a free kick into the box, which was headed home by Andri Jonasson with just 10 ticks to go before intermission.
• Stony Brook played with urgency in the second half and thought it had found an equalizer when junior forward Vince Erdei (Budapest, Hungary) flicked in a pass from junior Thibault Duval (Liege, Belgium). His celebration was halted, however, when the ref raised his flag for offsides.
• The tying goal didn't come until the 81st minute off the foot of freshman Macdara Heanue (Garrison, N.Y.). Erdei took a pass from sophomore Steven Ghitis (Weston, Fla.), spun by his defender, and fired a low ball across goal that evaded the keeper and found Heanue at the far post. He tapped in and then celebrated with his teammates at it appeared the game was headed to extra time.
• Hartford responded with the winning goal in the 86th minute. Just as he did in Hartford's quarterfinal, Bastian Stech scored the late winner, heading a cross from Kelechi Akujobi off the crossbar and over the goalline. 

Notes

• Stony Brook outshot the Hawks 13-8, but Hartford finished with a 4-3 edge in shots on goal.
• Stony Brook's nine wins were its most since winning 11 in 2012.
• The Seawolves finish the season with seven clean sheets, its highest total since 2010.
• Hartford advances to the conference title game and will travel to No. 2 Albany for Sunday's final.
• Ghitis notched his first career point in defeat.
• Stony Brook's six away wins were its most since 2010. Only the 2005 team earned more with nine.
• Twelve Stony Brook players recorded points on the season.