News

Hartford Athletic announced today that Head Coach Harry Watling will return for the 2022 season. In his first season as Head Coach, Watling led the club to a record 12 wins and 41 points. 

“I am very excited to return to Hartford for a second season. My first season as a manager was a great experience and I want to thank ownership for giving me the opportunity to lead the club again in 2022,” Watling said. “We have a great foundation to build on and I look forward to returning the club to the playoffs next season. I want to thank the fans for their continued support and repay you all with a team that turns out every week and makes you proud. We are building something special here and this season we will show that the hard work pays off.” 

Under Watling, the club saw a notable increase in player development as eight players were called for international competition. Many players set season highs in statistical categories including USL Championship All-League First Team selection Danny Barrera, who had eight goals and twelve assists, both career highs with the assist number leading the entire USL Championship, and Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. whose ten goals were a club single-season record. 

"We are thrilled to have Coach Watling on the sidelines again in 2022,” said Hartford Athletic Chairman Bruce Mandell. “He is an excellent young coach who showed great growth and development in his first season as a First Team manager. We are excited to see him build on last season's successes and lead us back to the playoffs in 2022.” 

Information about returning players, new player signings and the 2022 schedule will be available in the coming weeks.  

Hartford Athletic announced today that Head Coach Harry Watling will return for the 2022 season. In his first season as Head Coach, Watling led the club to a record 12 wins and 41 points. 

“I am very excited to return to Hartford for a second season. My first season as a manager was a great experience and I want to thank ownership for giving me the opportunity to lead the club again in 2022,” Watling said. “We have a great foundation to build on and I look forward to returning the club to the playoffs next season. I want to thank the fans for their continued support and repay you all with a team that turns out every week and makes you proud. We are building something special here and this season we will show that the hard work pays off.” 

Under Watling, the club saw a notable increase in player development as eight players were called for international competition. Many players set season highs in statistical categories including USL Championship All-League First Team selection Danny Barrera, who had eight goals and twelve assists, both career highs with the assist number leading the entire USL Championship, and Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. whose ten goals were a club single-season record. 

“We are thrilled to have Coach Watling on the sidelines again in 2022,” said Hartford Athletic Chairman Bruce Mandell. “He is an excellent young coach who showed great growth and development in his first season as a First Team manager. We are excited to see him build on last season’s successes and lead us back to the playoffs in 2022.” 

Information about returning players, new player signings and the 2022 schedule will be available in the coming weeks.  

The United Soccer League (USL) today announced AC Connecticut as the latest club to join the USL W League. AC Connecticut will introduce its women’s senior team in the USL W League in 2022 and will act as the W League affiliate to Hartford Athletic. 

"AC Connecticut is proud to announce that we will be founding members of the USL W League for its inaugural 2022 season,” said Sarah Brady, Girls Director of Coaching for AC Connecticut. “As a club committed to connecting youth soccer with the professional pathway we are delighted to strengthen our relationship with the USL and in making this commitment, mirroring the opportunities that we offer to both our male and female players."

Founded in 2012, AC Connecticut is the leading destination for youth soccer development in the lower Connecticut region. In February 2021, the club made a giant leap forward towards its vision to connect youth soccer with the professional pathway by entering into a formal partnership with USL Championship club Hartford Athletic on its USL League Two men’s side. Continuing its partnership with Hartford Athletic, AC Connecticut will now serve as the W League affiliate to the USL Championship club. As so, Hartford Athletic will no longer operate a standalone W League franchise but instead expand upon the successful AC Connecticut partnership to establish a W League club with professional oversight from Hartford Athletic’s staff.

Through strong leadership and a well-rounded technical staff, the club has fostered a player-centric approach to development with the goal of guiding its players from the grassroots game all the way through to the professional level. The club strives to be best in class both on and off the pitch and uses its progressive approach to soccer as a basis for creating an inclusive and accepting environment for all players, fans and families within its membership. 

In joining the W League, AC Connecticut will deepen its commitment to the growth of the women’s game by providing equal opportunity for its membership to reach the next level of their soccer careers. A cornerstone of this commitment is AC Connecticut’s focus on the development of its girls Academy programming. In preparation for the launch of its W League team, AC Connecticut will field a U19 girls team at the 2022 Academy Cup as the club works to build a pipeline of talent for its women’s pre-professional team. 

“We are thrilled to welcome AC Connecticut to the W League and to celebrate the affiliate relationship they have developed with Hartford Athletic,” said Betsy Haugh, USL Director of Women’s Soccer Operations. “Women’s soccer in Connecticut is in great hands, and we have no doubt this partnership will provide a great experience for players and fans alike.”

The United Soccer League (USL) today announced AC Connecticut as the latest club to join the USL W League. AC Connecticut will introduce its women’s senior team in the USL W League in 2022 and will act as the W League affiliate to Hartford Athletic. 

“AC Connecticut is proud to announce that we will be founding members of the USL W League for its inaugural 2022 season,” said Sarah Brady, Girls Director of Coaching for AC Connecticut. “As a club committed to connecting youth soccer with the professional pathway we are delighted to strengthen our relationship with the USL and in making this commitment, mirroring the opportunities that we offer to both our male and female players.”

Founded in 2012, AC Connecticut is the leading destination for youth soccer development in the lower Connecticut region. In February 2021, the club made a giant leap forward towards its vision to connect youth soccer with the professional pathway by entering into a formal partnership with USL Championship club Hartford Athletic on its USL League Two men’s side. Continuing its partnership with Hartford Athletic, AC Connecticut will now serve as the W League affiliate to the USL Championship club. As so, Hartford Athletic will no longer operate a standalone W League franchise but instead expand upon the successful AC Connecticut partnership to establish a W League club with professional oversight from Hartford Athletic’s staff.

Through strong leadership and a well-rounded technical staff, the club has fostered a player-centric approach to development with the goal of guiding its players from the grassroots game all the way through to the professional level. The club strives to be best in class both on and off the pitch and uses its progressive approach to soccer as a basis for creating an inclusive and accepting environment for all players, fans and families within its membership. 

In joining the W League, AC Connecticut will deepen its commitment to the growth of the women’s game by providing equal opportunity for its membership to reach the next level of their soccer careers. A cornerstone of this commitment is AC Connecticut’s focus on the development of its girls Academy programming. In preparation for the launch of its W League team, AC Connecticut will field a U19 girls team at the 2022 Academy Cup as the club works to build a pipeline of talent for its women’s pre-professional team. 

“We are thrilled to welcome AC Connecticut to the W League and to celebrate the affiliate relationship they have developed with Hartford Athletic,” said Betsy Haugh, USL Director of Women’s Soccer Operations. “Women’s soccer in Connecticut is in great hands, and we have no doubt this partnership will provide a great experience for players and fans alike.”

Danny Barrera was named to the USL Championship's All-League First Team today. He is the first Hartford Athletic player ever to be named to an All-League Team. 

Barrera had a stellar season for Hartford, scoring eight goals and tallying twelve assists. The twelve assists were the most in a single season in Hartford history, most in a season in Danny's career, and the most in the league in 2021. His eight goals are the second highest total in a season for the club and catapulted him to first all-time in Hartford history with thirteen.

This is the second All-League First Team honor Barrera has earned in his career. He was named All-League First Team in 2016 as a member of Sacramento Republic where he had three goals and ten assists in thirty-one appearances. Sacramento finished in first place in the Western Conference with 52 points.

Fans interested in learning soccer skills from our first ever All-League player can sign up for the Danny Barrera Skills Clinic on December 3rd and 4th. Boys and Girls ages 6-14 can sign up at https://www.hartfordathletic.com/clinics.

2021 USL Championship All-League First Team

GK – Evan Louro, Tampa Bay Rowdies: In his second season in Tampa Bay, Evan Louro led the Championship with 14 shutouts – good for second-most in a regular season in league history – and posted a 0.74 goals-against average while playing 31 of 32 regular season games for the Atlantic Division winner. 

D – Paco Craig, Miami FC: Making his return to the Championship in Miami, Paco Craig earned a third All-League First Team selection as he starred in the center of his new club’s back line. The English center back finished tied for the league-lead among defenders with 198 recoveries and fourth overall with 134 clearances, while also posting a 63.9 percent duel success rate and 62.6 aerial duel success rate, earning a +7.50 Goals Added mark to lead all center backs in the Championship.

D – Jonathan Gomez, Louisville City FC: The 18-year-old standout had a remarkable year that saw him named in the preliminary roster for the United States to the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, and individually Jonathan Gomez proved a standout two-way player for LouCity as he recorded two goals, eight assists and 44 key passes offensively while recording 43 interceptions and a 75 percent tackle success rate defensively.

D – Forrest Lasso, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Voted to the All-League First Team for a fifth consecutive season, Forrest Lasso was the centerpiece of a three-man back line that was the best defense in the league for Tampa Bay. Lasso led the league with 153 clearances and 132 aerial duels won, the latter coming at a 73.3 percent success rate, while also winning 67.7 percent of duels and blocking 26 shots.

D – Sean Totsch, Louisville City FC: LouCity stalwart Sean Totsch was one of only three players to play every minute of the regular season as he earned his second consecutive All-League First Team selection. Totsch completed a league-high 1,765 of 2,079 passes in the regular season while also recording 195 recoveries and winning 114 aerial duels – second among defenders – at a 69.5 percent success rate as LouCity faced a league-fewest 263 shots.

**M – Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic: Earning his second All-League First Team honor, Danny Barrera led the league with 12 assists and ranked third with 82 key passes while also scoring eight goals, good for second on the Athletic. The 31-year-old native of Colombia also completed 1,001 passes at a 78.1 percent accuracy rate to post a +6.58 Goals Added mark over the regular season.

M – Jorge Hernandez, LA Galaxy II: The 20-year-old playmaker had a breakthrough season for Los Dos as he recorded 12 goals and six assists while leading the league with 91 chances created in the regular season. Hernandez’s play helped propel the Galaxy II attack as he finished with the highest Expected Assists mark in the league at 8.52xA while tying for the league lead with three goals directly from free kicks and a league-high five goals from outside the penalty area.

M – Aodhan Quinn, Phoenix Rising FC: One of the league’s major offseason moves as he joined Phoenix, Aodhan Quinn earned the second All-League First Team selection of his career with a standout season for the Pacific Division winners. Quinn finished tied for second in the league with 11 assists and notched six goals for Rising FC while ranking second in the Championship with 84 key passes and second on Rising FC with a +7.89 Goals Added mark.

F – Hadji Barry, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: The Guinean forward equaled the Championship’s single-season scoring record with 25 goals in a remarkable campaign that helped the Switchbacks earn their first postseason berth since 2016. Hadji Barry averaged a goal every 114.9 minutes while also notching five assists and 49 key passes to lead a rejuvenated squad to success at Colorado Springs’ new downtown home.

F – Sebastian Guenzatti, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The Rowdies’ captain earned his first All-League First Team selection as he scored a career-best 21 goals in the regular season while also recording six assists to lead the club in both categories. Sebastian Guenzatti’s work-rate as the first line of defense also drew plaudits throughout the season as he recorded 24 interceptions and notched a Goals Added mark of +10.86 to lead all players in the Championship.

F – Santi Moar, Phoenix Rising FC: The Spaniard had a career-high 16 goals in his second season with Rising FC, leading the team, while also recording four assists and 63 key passes to sit tied for fourth in the league. Santi Moar’s decision-making in the final third also played a major role in Rising FC’s success as he completed 49 dribbles and recorded four goals from beyond the penalty area, tied for second in the league.

2021 USL Championship All-League Second Team

GK – Matt VanOekel, Birmingham Legion FC: The veteran had an outstanding individual campaign in basic numbers, finishing tied for third in the league with nine shutouts and recording 80 saves, but the impressiveness of Matt VanOekel’s 2021 season was made clear with his league-best -8.36 differential in Goals Conceded over Expected Goals as he led the second-best defense in the regular season.

D – Aaron Guillen, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Aaron Guillen continued to provide an ideal complement to Forrest Lasso in the Rowdies’ three-man back line as he led the side with 59 interceptions while winning duels at a 69.3 percent success rate and aerial duels at a 78 percent success rate. The 28-year-old led Tampa Bay with 1,392 passes completed – fifth-most in the league – at an 83.5 percent accuracy rate.

D – James Musa, Phoenix Rising FC: The New Zealand international seamlessly moved back into the Rising FC lineup after a season away to play a key role in the center of defense for Phoenix. James Musa won 148 duels at a success rate of 68.8 percent while also notching 56 interceptions defensively and completed 1,294 passes at an 83.7 percent accuracy rate, earning a +5.80 Goals Added mark.

D – Mark Segbers, Memphis 901 FC: One of a handful of holdovers at 901 FC, Mark Segbers was a central figure in the club’s first postseason berth. The right back recorded 62 interceptions – good for eighth in the league – and made 185 recoveries, eighth-most among defenders, while recording two goals, three assists and 30 chances created in the attacking end of the field.

D – Josh Yaro, San Diego Loyal SC: Joining San Diego over the offseason, Josh Yaro had a standout season on both sides of the ball, recording 27 tackles at a 77.1 percent success rate – tied for second-highest percentage in the league among players with at least 25 tackles – while also notching 53 interceptions and a duel success rate of 66.3 percent. Yaro also completed 1,461 passes – fourth-most in the league – at an accuracy rate of 89.7 percent.

M – Jose Gallegos, San Antonio FC: Nominated for the Championship’s Young Player of the Year award a season ago, the San Antonio FC Academy product earned his first All-League selection this campaign after taking the next step toward what appears a bright future. Jose Gallegos led the league with 99 completed dribbles, had seven goals, three assists and 38 chances created, and also tied for third in the league with 233 duels won.

M – Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The Championship’s all-time leader in regular season assists earned his fifth All-League selection after a season in which he continued to be a catalyst for the Hounds, recording five goals and six assists while sitting tied for fourth in the Championship with 63 chances created. Kenardo Forbes also ranked third in the league with a 7.56 Expected Assists mark.

M – Diego Luna, El Paso Locomotive FC: Recently selected to the United States U-20 National Team, Diego Luna made an impressive debut in the professional ranks with Locomotive FC as he recorded nine goals and five assists for the Mountain Division winner at the age of 18 years old. Luna recorded 37 chances created overall and had a shot conversion rate of 21.7 percent.

F – Neco Brett, Birmingham Legion FC: The Jamaican forward earned his second All-League Second Team selection after a career-best 18 goals in the regular season for Legion FC that accounted for more than one-third of the side’s overall attacking output in the regular season. Neco Brett also added three assists and 32 key passes and had a shot conversion rate of 29.5 percent.

F – Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC: Earning his third All-League selection in the past four seasons, Cameron Lancaster became only the second player in league history to record multiple 20-goal regular season campaigns with 20 tallies for LouCity’s high-flying attack. The English forward averaged a goal every 92.6 minutes, the best scoring rate in the league among players with at least 10 goals in the regular season campaign.

F – Kyle Murphy, Memphis 901 FC: One of numerous offseason arrivals in Memphis, Kyle Murphy had a career season as he became the 10th player in league history to record 20 goals in a regular season. Murphy averaged a goal every 106 minutes on a shot conversion rate of 28.6 percent, and accounted for 41.6 percent of 901 FC’s goals as the side reached the postseason for the first time.

Danny Barrera was named to the USL Championship’s All-League First Team today. He is the first Hartford Athletic player ever to be named to an All-League Team. 

Barrera had a stellar season for Hartford, scoring eight goals and tallying twelve assists. The twelve assists were the most in a single season in Hartford history, most in a season in Danny’s career, and the most in the league in 2021. His eight goals are the second highest total in a season for the club and catapulted him to first all-time in Hartford history with thirteen.

This is the second All-League First Team honor Barrera has earned in his career. He was named All-League First Team in 2016 as a member of Sacramento Republic where he had three goals and ten assists in thirty-one appearances. Sacramento finished in first place in the Western Conference with 52 points.

Fans interested in learning soccer skills from our first ever All-League player can sign up for the Danny Barrera Skills Clinic on December 3rd and 4th. Boys and Girls ages 6-14 can sign up at https://www.hartfordathletic.com/clinics.

2021 USL Championship All-League First Team

GK – Evan Louro, Tampa Bay Rowdies: In his second season in Tampa Bay, Evan Louro led the Championship with 14 shutouts – good for second-most in a regular season in league history – and posted a 0.74 goals-against average while playing 31 of 32 regular season games for the Atlantic Division winner. 

D – Paco Craig, Miami FC: Making his return to the Championship in Miami, Paco Craig earned a third All-League First Team selection as he starred in the center of his new club’s back line. The English center back finished tied for the league-lead among defenders with 198 recoveries and fourth overall with 134 clearances, while also posting a 63.9 percent duel success rate and 62.6 aerial duel success rate, earning a +7.50 Goals Added mark to lead all center backs in the Championship.

D – Jonathan Gomez, Louisville City FC: The 18-year-old standout had a remarkable year that saw him named in the preliminary roster for the United States to the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, and individually Jonathan Gomez proved a standout two-way player for LouCity as he recorded two goals, eight assists and 44 key passes offensively while recording 43 interceptions and a 75 percent tackle success rate defensively.

D – Forrest Lasso, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Voted to the All-League First Team for a fifth consecutive season, Forrest Lasso was the centerpiece of a three-man back line that was the best defense in the league for Tampa Bay. Lasso led the league with 153 clearances and 132 aerial duels won, the latter coming at a 73.3 percent success rate, while also winning 67.7 percent of duels and blocking 26 shots.

D – Sean Totsch, Louisville City FC: LouCity stalwart Sean Totsch was one of only three players to play every minute of the regular season as he earned his second consecutive All-League First Team selection. Totsch completed a league-high 1,765 of 2,079 passes in the regular season while also recording 195 recoveries and winning 114 aerial duels – second among defenders – at a 69.5 percent success rate as LouCity faced a league-fewest 263 shots.

**M – Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic: Earning his second All-League First Team honor, Danny Barrera led the league with 12 assists and ranked third with 82 key passes while also scoring eight goals, good for second on the Athletic. The 31-year-old native of Colombia also completed 1,001 passes at a 78.1 percent accuracy rate to post a +6.58 Goals Added mark over the regular season.

M – Jorge Hernandez, LA Galaxy II: The 20-year-old playmaker had a breakthrough season for Los Dos as he recorded 12 goals and six assists while leading the league with 91 chances created in the regular season. Hernandez’s play helped propel the Galaxy II attack as he finished with the highest Expected Assists mark in the league at 8.52xA while tying for the league lead with three goals directly from free kicks and a league-high five goals from outside the penalty area.

M – Aodhan Quinn, Phoenix Rising FC: One of the league’s major offseason moves as he joined Phoenix, Aodhan Quinn earned the second All-League First Team selection of his career with a standout season for the Pacific Division winners. Quinn finished tied for second in the league with 11 assists and notched six goals for Rising FC while ranking second in the Championship with 84 key passes and second on Rising FC with a +7.89 Goals Added mark.

F – Hadji Barry, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: The Guinean forward equaled the Championship’s single-season scoring record with 25 goals in a remarkable campaign that helped the Switchbacks earn their first postseason berth since 2016. Hadji Barry averaged a goal every 114.9 minutes while also notching five assists and 49 key passes to lead a rejuvenated squad to success at Colorado Springs’ new downtown home.

F – Sebastian Guenzatti, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The Rowdies’ captain earned his first All-League First Team selection as he scored a career-best 21 goals in the regular season while also recording six assists to lead the club in both categories. Sebastian Guenzatti’s work-rate as the first line of defense also drew plaudits throughout the season as he recorded 24 interceptions and notched a Goals Added mark of +10.86 to lead all players in the Championship.

F – Santi Moar, Phoenix Rising FC: The Spaniard had a career-high 16 goals in his second season with Rising FC, leading the team, while also recording four assists and 63 key passes to sit tied for fourth in the league. Santi Moar’s decision-making in the final third also played a major role in Rising FC’s success as he completed 49 dribbles and recorded four goals from beyond the penalty area, tied for second in the league.

2021 USL Championship All-League Second Team

GK – Matt VanOekel, Birmingham Legion FC: The veteran had an outstanding individual campaign in basic numbers, finishing tied for third in the league with nine shutouts and recording 80 saves, but the impressiveness of Matt VanOekel’s 2021 season was made clear with his league-best -8.36 differential in Goals Conceded over Expected Goals as he led the second-best defense in the regular season.

D – Aaron Guillen, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Aaron Guillen continued to provide an ideal complement to Forrest Lasso in the Rowdies’ three-man back line as he led the side with 59 interceptions while winning duels at a 69.3 percent success rate and aerial duels at a 78 percent success rate. The 28-year-old led Tampa Bay with 1,392 passes completed – fifth-most in the league – at an 83.5 percent accuracy rate.

D – James Musa, Phoenix Rising FC: The New Zealand international seamlessly moved back into the Rising FC lineup after a season away to play a key role in the center of defense for Phoenix. James Musa won 148 duels at a success rate of 68.8 percent while also notching 56 interceptions defensively and completed 1,294 passes at an 83.7 percent accuracy rate, earning a +5.80 Goals Added mark.

D – Mark Segbers, Memphis 901 FC: One of a handful of holdovers at 901 FC, Mark Segbers was a central figure in the club’s first postseason berth. The right back recorded 62 interceptions – good for eighth in the league – and made 185 recoveries, eighth-most among defenders, while recording two goals, three assists and 30 chances created in the attacking end of the field.

D – Josh Yaro, San Diego Loyal SC: Joining San Diego over the offseason, Josh Yaro had a standout season on both sides of the ball, recording 27 tackles at a 77.1 percent success rate – tied for second-highest percentage in the league among players with at least 25 tackles – while also notching 53 interceptions and a duel success rate of 66.3 percent. Yaro also completed 1,461 passes – fourth-most in the league – at an accuracy rate of 89.7 percent.

M – Jose Gallegos, San Antonio FC: Nominated for the Championship’s Young Player of the Year award a season ago, the San Antonio FC Academy product earned his first All-League selection this campaign after taking the next step toward what appears a bright future. Jose Gallegos led the league with 99 completed dribbles, had seven goals, three assists and 38 chances created, and also tied for third in the league with 233 duels won.

M – Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The Championship’s all-time leader in regular season assists earned his fifth All-League selection after a season in which he continued to be a catalyst for the Hounds, recording five goals and six assists while sitting tied for fourth in the Championship with 63 chances created. Kenardo Forbes also ranked third in the league with a 7.56 Expected Assists mark.

M – Diego Luna, El Paso Locomotive FC: Recently selected to the United States U-20 National Team, Diego Luna made an impressive debut in the professional ranks with Locomotive FC as he recorded nine goals and five assists for the Mountain Division winner at the age of 18 years old. Luna recorded 37 chances created overall and had a shot conversion rate of 21.7 percent.

F – Neco Brett, Birmingham Legion FC: The Jamaican forward earned his second All-League Second Team selection after a career-best 18 goals in the regular season for Legion FC that accounted for more than one-third of the side’s overall attacking output in the regular season. Neco Brett also added three assists and 32 key passes and had a shot conversion rate of 29.5 percent.

F – Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC: Earning his third All-League selection in the past four seasons, Cameron Lancaster became only the second player in league history to record multiple 20-goal regular season campaigns with 20 tallies for LouCity’s high-flying attack. The English forward averaged a goal every 92.6 minutes, the best scoring rate in the league among players with at least 10 goals in the regular season campaign.

F – Kyle Murphy, Memphis 901 FC: One of numerous offseason arrivals in Memphis, Kyle Murphy had a career season as he became the 10th player in league history to record 20 goals in a regular season. Murphy averaged a goal every 106 minutes on a shot conversion rate of 28.6 percent, and accounted for 41.6 percent of 901 FC’s goals as the side reached the postseason for the first time.

Hartford Athletic announced today a multi-year partnership with Hummel as the club’s official on-field apparel provider. Hummel will produce all official training and match day gear for the club, including new home and away kits for 2022. 

“Hartford Athletic is proud to partner with Hummel joining top clubs around the world including Southampton and Everton,” said Hartford Athletic CEO Jim Burda. “Through this partnership, we are thrilled to provide our fans with a wide selection of high quality merchandise, and our players and staff with high performance gear on the pitch.” 

“We are thrilled by the opportunity to be working with Hartford Athletic and look forward to growing with them over the year,” said Jeff Duback, Hummel US Country Manager. “This is our first year working with USL Championship clubs and we are excited to provide them with gear for on and off the pitch. This partnership aligns perfectly with both our global and local goal to ‘change the world through sport’.” 

Hartford Athletic becomes the first USL Championship club to partner with Hummel and concludes its relationship with Adidas who served as official on-field apparel provider from 2019 to 2021. New Hummel products are now available in the Hartford Athletic online store and fans can get up to 20% off select products Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Visit shop.https://www.hartfordathletic.com to browse the entire collection. 

Hartford Athletic announced today a multi-year partnership with Hummel as the club’s official on-field apparel provider. Hummel will produce all official training and match day gear for the club, including new home and away kits for 2022. 

“Hartford Athletic is proud to partner with Hummel joining top clubs around the world including Southampton and Everton,” said Hartford Athletic CEO Jim Burda. “Through this partnership, we are thrilled to provide our fans with a wide selection of high quality merchandise, and our players and staff with high performance gear on the pitch.” 

“We are thrilled by the opportunity to be working with Hartford Athletic and look forward to growing with them over the year,” said Jeff Duback, Hummel US Country Manager. “This is our first year working with USL Championship clubs and we are excited to provide them with gear for on and off the pitch. This partnership aligns perfectly with both our global and local goal to ‘change the world through sport’.” 

Hartford Athletic becomes the first USL Championship club to partner with Hummel and concludes its relationship with Adidas who served as official on-field apparel provider from 2019 to 2021. New Hummel products are now available in the Hartford Athletic online store and fans can get up to 20% off select products Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Visit shop.https://www.hartfordathletic.com to browse the entire collection. 

Thanks to the support of the City, State, fans, and our partners, Hartford Athletic continued to deliver on its mission to make our community the best place to live, work, and play in 2021. The Club continues to expand on an already robust lineup of impactful community programming with a number of exciting new activations. Here are some highlights: 

Green & Blue Foundation: 

Hartford Athletic launched the Green & Blue Foundation 501c3 which strives to enhance the quality of life for youth and disadvantaged people in Connecticut. The Foundation focuses on making a difference for communities in need in support of five key Community Pillars: Health and Wellness, Diversity and Inclusion, Youth and Family Education, Economic Development, and Veterans and First Responder support.  

The Foundation partnered with Walgreens on the #Changemakers Series and identified Period Poverty as the area of focus. The program kicked off with Walgreens, Hartford Athletic, and the Aurora Foundation hosting the first ever #Changemakers Women’s Leadership Luncheon. Hartford Athletic and Walgreens also highlight leaders in the community through the #Changemaker of the Month video series and welcomed in girls from the Hartford Boys and Girls Club for the first ever “Girls Run The Game” match. Participants shadowed Hartford Athletic staff and learned what it takes to put on a professional soccer match.  

The Green & Blue Foundation also hosted the first ever Veterans and Diversity Hiring Expo on September 7th. In partnership with the Connecticut Department of Labor, over 300 job seekers came out to meet with over 60 potential employers to apply for jobs. In addition to providing job opportunities, our partners were able to provide educational opportunities for those seeking resume assistance, interview strategies and dress for success advice to assist in the process. As a result of the Veterans and Diversity Hiring Expo, 42% of companies who attended had job seekers complete applications for vacant positions. 

The Foundation will continue to host these programs and more in 2022, including a STEM Education match. 

Corporate Partnerships: 

The Club continued to expand on its strong corporate support with 55 corporate partners including Founding Partners Trinity Health of New England, Stanley Black & Decker, Cigna, The Hartford, and Travelers. Key community elements are part of all corporate partnerships with a few highlights below: 

Trinity Health of New England served as presenting partner of Community Health Night and Stroke Awareness Night. First Responders and other healthcare heroes who have been serving their communities throughout the pandemic were honored during the match. Trinity Health of New England has been a beacon of support in the community, helping Connecticut become the 3rd most vaccinated state in the country. 

In the third annual Match for a Cause, Hartford Athletic and Stanley Black & Decker raised over $19,000 for The Legacy Foundation of Hartford. Hartford Athletic players wore special all-black kits which were auctioned off to fans as well as other HA items and experiences. The total was matched by Stanley Black & Decker and all proceeds were donated to The Legacy Foundation. 

Junior Fire Marshall Night returned to Dillon Stadium for the first time since 2019 in partnership with The Hartford. Hartford Fire Chief Rodney Barco conducted an on-field pledge at halftime of the match. Looking ahead, 2022 marks the 75th anniversary of the Junior Fire Marshall program and Hartford Athletic and The Hartford will combine on a special campaign to honor the landmark anniversary. 

Hartford Athletic and Cigna teamed up with the Hartford Public Library to create The StoryWalk, an interactive children’s book display coming to Colt Park in 2022. A series of 20 podiums will each display two pages of a book in English and Spanish and challenge kids to complete a physical activity while walking to the next page. 

Hartford Athletic and Travelers were thrilled to bring back the Community Champion Program which had been cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. This year Travelers provided tickets to 100 refugee children and their families from the CT Institute for Refugees and Immigrants to attend a Hartford Athletic home match. The Travelers Mini Pitch continued to be the most popular fan zone for kids in the stadium on matchday. 

Nuovo Pasta, Stop & Shop, ConnectiCare, and Citizens Bank all combined to participate in the Goals for Meals program. For each goal Hartford Athletic scored in 2021, 300 meals and 24 boxes of pasta were donated to Connecticut Foodshare. 

Hartford Athletic and Gengras Motor Cars combined to run Youth Skills Clinics at Dillon Stadium throughout the summer. Participants were given the opportunity to train in a professional environment and learn from Hartford Athletic’s First Team coaching staff and participants received a free registration by contacting a Gengras dealership allowing for all to participate. 

For the fifth annual AARP Community Challenge, AARP received more than 3,500 applications from nonprofits and government entities, resulting in a highly competitive selection process to fund 244 quick-action projects across the country, helping urban, rural and suburban communities make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress to support residents of all ages. AARP teamed up to grant Hartford Athletic's Green & Blue Foundation funds to enhance pedestrian safety, comfort and enjoyment with traffic calming features, accessible benches and a community garden in Colt Park. Earlier this year, Hartford Athletic staff worked with Trinity College Men’s Basketball to clean up trash in the streets surrounding the stadium and paint parking barriers in the Dillon Stadium parking lot with completion of additional projects planned for 2022. 

Community: 

The Community Ticket Program returned in 2021 welcoming those that may otherwise not have a chance to attend a match and celebrating our community heroes. Through donations from the Green & Blue Foundation, the Gitlin Family and Business Alliance partners, over 8,000 fans were welcomed to Hartford Athletic matches throughout the season through the Community Ticket Program. 

Hartford Athletic also continued to expand to hosting additional major community events at Dillon Stadium this fall. On October 30th, the Small State Great Beer Festival presented by Powerstation Events made its Dillon Stadium debut. Thousands of people flocked to Dillon for a festival celebrating all things Connecticut. Over 40 Connecticut breweries, cideries, distilleries, and vineyards brought samples of their beverages. Local restaurants and food trucks were also on hand to showcase their food while some of the state’s best bands combined to put on an all-day concert. 

The CIAC, governing body for Connecticut High School sports, once again chose Dillon Stadium as the site for its Soccer State Championships. All eight Boys and Girls State Championship matchups will be played on the weekend of November 20 and 21. 

Thanks to the support of the City, State, fans, and our partners, Hartford Athletic continued to deliver on its mission to make our community the best place to live, work, and play in 2021. The Club continues to expand on an already robust lineup of impactful community programming with a number of exciting new activations. Here are some highlights: 

Green & Blue Foundation: 

Hartford Athletic launched the Green & Blue Foundation 501c3 which strives to enhance the quality of life for youth and disadvantaged people in Connecticut. The Foundation focuses on making a difference for communities in need in support of five key Community Pillars: Health and Wellness, Diversity and Inclusion, Youth and Family Education, Economic Development, and Veterans and First Responder support.  

The Foundation partnered with Walgreens on the #Changemakers Series and identified Period Poverty as the area of focus. The program kicked off with Walgreens, Hartford Athletic, and the Aurora Foundation hosting the first ever #Changemakers Women’s Leadership Luncheon. Hartford Athletic and Walgreens also highlight leaders in the community through the #Changemaker of the Month video series and welcomed in girls from the Hartford Boys and Girls Club for the first ever “Girls Run The Game” match. Participants shadowed Hartford Athletic staff and learned what it takes to put on a professional soccer match.  

The Green & Blue Foundation also hosted the first ever Veterans and Diversity Hiring Expo on September 7th. In partnership with the Connecticut Department of Labor, over 300 job seekers came out to meet with over 60 potential employers to apply for jobs. In addition to providing job opportunities, our partners were able to provide educational opportunities for those seeking resume assistance, interview strategies and dress for success advice to assist in the process. As a result of the Veterans and Diversity Hiring Expo, 42% of companies who attended had job seekers complete applications for vacant positions. 

The Foundation will continue to host these programs and more in 2022, including a STEM Education match. 

Corporate Partnerships: 

The Club continued to expand on its strong corporate support with 55 corporate partners including Founding Partners Trinity Health of New England, Stanley Black & Decker, Cigna, The Hartford, and Travelers. Key community elements are part of all corporate partnerships with a few highlights below: 

Trinity Health of New England served as presenting partner of Community Health Night and Stroke Awareness Night. First Responders and other healthcare heroes who have been serving their communities throughout the pandemic were honored during the match. Trinity Health of New England has been a beacon of support in the community, helping Connecticut become the 3rd most vaccinated state in the country. 

In the third annual Match for a Cause, Hartford Athletic and Stanley Black & Decker raised over $19,000 for The Legacy Foundation of Hartford. Hartford Athletic players wore special all-black kits which were auctioned off to fans as well as other HA items and experiences. The total was matched by Stanley Black & Decker and all proceeds were donated to The Legacy Foundation. 

Junior Fire Marshall Night returned to Dillon Stadium for the first time since 2019 in partnership with The Hartford. Hartford Fire Chief Rodney Barco conducted an on-field pledge at halftime of the match. Looking ahead, 2022 marks the 75th anniversary of the Junior Fire Marshall program and Hartford Athletic and The Hartford will combine on a special campaign to honor the landmark anniversary. 

Hartford Athletic and Cigna teamed up with the Hartford Public Library to create The StoryWalk, an interactive children’s book display coming to Colt Park in 2022. A series of 20 podiums will each display two pages of a book in English and Spanish and challenge kids to complete a physical activity while walking to the next page. 

Hartford Athletic and Travelers were thrilled to bring back the Community Champion Program which had been cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. This year Travelers provided tickets to 100 refugee children and their families from the CT Institute for Refugees and Immigrants to attend a Hartford Athletic home match. The Travelers Mini Pitch continued to be the most popular fan zone for kids in the stadium on matchday. 

Nuovo Pasta, Stop & Shop, ConnectiCare, and Citizens Bank all combined to participate in the Goals for Meals program. For each goal Hartford Athletic scored in 2021, 300 meals and 24 boxes of pasta were donated to Connecticut Foodshare. 

Hartford Athletic and Gengras Motor Cars combined to run Youth Skills Clinics at Dillon Stadium throughout the summer. Participants were given the opportunity to train in a professional environment and learn from Hartford Athletic’s First Team coaching staff and participants received a free registration by contacting a Gengras dealership allowing for all to participate. 

For the fifth annual AARP Community Challenge, AARP received more than 3,500 applications from nonprofits and government entities, resulting in a highly competitive selection process to fund 244 quick-action projects across the country, helping urban, rural and suburban communities make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress to support residents of all ages. AARP teamed up to grant Hartford Athletic’s Green & Blue Foundation funds to enhance pedestrian safety, comfort and enjoyment with traffic calming features, accessible benches and a community garden in Colt Park. Earlier this year, Hartford Athletic staff worked with Trinity College Men’s Basketball to clean up trash in the streets surrounding the stadium and paint parking barriers in the Dillon Stadium parking lot with completion of additional projects planned for 2022. 

Community: 

The Community Ticket Program returned in 2021 welcoming those that may otherwise not have a chance to attend a match and celebrating our community heroes. Through donations from the Green & Blue Foundation, the Gitlin Family and Business Alliance partners, over 8,000 fans were welcomed to Hartford Athletic matches throughout the season through the Community Ticket Program. 

Hartford Athletic also continued to expand to hosting additional major community events at Dillon Stadium this fall. On October 30th, the Small State Great Beer Festival presented by Powerstation Events made its Dillon Stadium debut. Thousands of people flocked to Dillon for a festival celebrating all things Connecticut. Over 40 Connecticut breweries, cideries, distilleries, and vineyards brought samples of their beverages. Local restaurants and food trucks were also on hand to showcase their food while some of the state’s best bands combined to put on an all-day concert. 

The CIAC, governing body for Connecticut High School sports, once again chose Dillon Stadium as the site for its Soccer State Championships. All eight Boys and Girls State Championship matchups will be played on the weekend of November 20 and 21. 

Hartford Athletic Goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell has been acquired by Miami FC via a temporary emergency loan. Caldwell joins Miami in advance of its game against Louisville City FC tomorrow, Saturday Nov. 6, in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

The emergency loan comes after Miami Goalkeeper Bryan Sylvestre became unavailable for Saturday's match. Under league rules, after the Roster Freeze date, if a club is reduced to a single available and healthy goalkeeper, that club may petition the league to register an emergency goalkeeper. The subsequent registration will be permitted until such time as one or more of the originally rostered goalkeepers becomes available and healthy.

Caldwell recorded a club record 109 saves in 2021, second best in the USL Championship. His 9 clean sheets were also a club record.  We wish Jeff all the best as he competes in the postseason!

Hartford Athletic Goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell has been acquired by Miami FC via a temporary emergency loan. Caldwell joins Miami in advance of its game against Louisville City FC tomorrow, Saturday Nov. 6, in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

The emergency loan comes after Miami Goalkeeper Bryan Sylvestre became unavailable for Saturday’s match. Under league rules, after the Roster Freeze date, if a club is reduced to a single available and healthy goalkeeper, that club may petition the league to register an emergency goalkeeper. The subsequent registration will be permitted until such time as one or more of the originally rostered goalkeepers becomes available and healthy.

Caldwell recorded a club record 109 saves in 2021, second best in the USL Championship. His 9 clean sheets were also a club record.  We wish Jeff all the best as he competes in the postseason!

Walmer Martinez has been named to the Week 28 USL Championship Team of the Week for his performances against Charleston Battery and Pittsburgh Riverhounds last week. Walmer scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Charleston on Tuesday and completed 22 of 26 passes in the match as well. 

This is Walmer's first ever appearance on the Team of the Week. He joins teammates Arthur Rogers, Nii Armah Ashitey, Danny Barrera (3x), Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., Alex Lara, and Ash Apollon as Hartford players to earn the honor this season.

USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 28

GK – Patrick Rakovsky, Orange County SC: The German shot-stopper recorded a five-save shutout in a 1-0 victory against the LA Galaxy II that cemented OCSC’s second-place finish in the Pacific Division to close the season. 

D – Bradley Bourgeois, FC Tulsa: The veteran defender had a standout performance as Tulsa claimed the Black Gold Derby series with a 2-0 victory against OKC Energy FC on Saturday as he notched one assist, completed four key passes and 54 of 61 passes overall while recording five interceptions and 10 recoveries.

D – Baboucarr Nije, Rio Grande Valley FC: The Gambian defender started in both the Toros’ victories to seal a playoff place and across the two games won 20 of 26 duels, completed 99 of 109 passes and made five interceptions and 17 recoveries.

D – Kortne Ford, San Antonio FC: Kortne Ford scored the final goal in San Antonio’s 3-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and recorded four interceptions and four recoveries while winning the lone tackle and both aerial duels he contested.

D – Mark Segbers, Memphis 901 FC: Mark Sebgers recorded one goal and one assist across two victories for 901 FC while notching two key passes and completing 59 of 74 passes overall and recording three interceptions defensively.

M – Daniel Edelman, New York Red Bulls II: Daniel Edelman put in a fine two-way performance in New York’s 4-1 victory against Loudoun United FC, recording one goal and two key passes as he completed 32 of 38 passes overall. Defensively, he won 8 of 10 duels and 4 of 4 tackles and notched 13 recoveries. 

M – Chris Wehan, New Mexico United: Chris Wehan recorded a pair of goals and had three shots and one key pass while completing 19 of 23 passes in New Mexico’s 3-1 victory against Real Monarchs SLC on Saturday evening.

M – Laurent Kissiedou, Memphis 901 FC: Laurent Kissiedou recorded a pair of assists in Memphis’ 3-0 victory against Indy Eleven on Saturday night and finished the week with seven shots and eight key passes over two wins that sent 901 FC to the No. 3 seed in the Central Division.

F – Kyle Edwards, Rio Grande Valley FC: The St. Vincent and Grenadines international notched a pair of goals and had five shots overall in the Toros’ playoff-clinching 4-1 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday while also winning 5 of 5 duels and completing 4 of 4 dribbles.

F – Steevan Dos Santos, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The Cape Verde forward scored both goals as the Rowdies took a 2-1 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday while also notching four key passes and winning 8 of 12 duels as Tampa Bay earned the best record in the Championship’s regular season.

***F – Walmer Martinez, Hartford Athletic: The El Salvador international scored his first two goals in the Championship in the Athletic’s 2-0 victory against the Charleston Battery on Tuesday night and completed 22 of 26 passes and one key pass as well.

Bench: Brady Scott (MEM), Akeem Ward (OAK), Rodrigo Lopez (RGV), Steven Sserwada (NY), Gabriel Obertan (CLT), Christian Sorto (RGV), Jeremy Rafanello (NY)

Walmer Martinez has been named to the Week 28 USL Championship Team of the Week for his performances against Charleston Battery and Pittsburgh Riverhounds last week. Walmer scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Charleston on Tuesday and completed 22 of 26 passes in the match as well. 

This is Walmer’s first ever appearance on the Team of the Week. He joins teammates Arthur Rogers, Nii Armah Ashitey, Danny Barrera (3x), Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., Alex Lara, and Ash Apollon as Hartford players to earn the honor this season.

USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 28

GK – Patrick Rakovsky, Orange County SC: The German shot-stopper recorded a five-save shutout in a 1-0 victory against the LA Galaxy II that cemented OCSC’s second-place finish in the Pacific Division to close the season. 

D – Bradley Bourgeois, FC Tulsa: The veteran defender had a standout performance as Tulsa claimed the Black Gold Derby series with a 2-0 victory against OKC Energy FC on Saturday as he notched one assist, completed four key passes and 54 of 61 passes overall while recording five interceptions and 10 recoveries.

D – Baboucarr Nije, Rio Grande Valley FC: The Gambian defender started in both the Toros’ victories to seal a playoff place and across the two games won 20 of 26 duels, completed 99 of 109 passes and made five interceptions and 17 recoveries.

D – Kortne Ford, San Antonio FC: Kortne Ford scored the final goal in San Antonio’s 3-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and recorded four interceptions and four recoveries while winning the lone tackle and both aerial duels he contested.

D – Mark Segbers, Memphis 901 FC: Mark Sebgers recorded one goal and one assist across two victories for 901 FC while notching two key passes and completing 59 of 74 passes overall and recording three interceptions defensively.

M – Daniel Edelman, New York Red Bulls II: Daniel Edelman put in a fine two-way performance in New York’s 4-1 victory against Loudoun United FC, recording one goal and two key passes as he completed 32 of 38 passes overall. Defensively, he won 8 of 10 duels and 4 of 4 tackles and notched 13 recoveries. 

M – Chris Wehan, New Mexico United: Chris Wehan recorded a pair of goals and had three shots and one key pass while completing 19 of 23 passes in New Mexico’s 3-1 victory against Real Monarchs SLC on Saturday evening.

M – Laurent Kissiedou, Memphis 901 FC: Laurent Kissiedou recorded a pair of assists in Memphis’ 3-0 victory against Indy Eleven on Saturday night and finished the week with seven shots and eight key passes over two wins that sent 901 FC to the No. 3 seed in the Central Division.

F – Kyle Edwards, Rio Grande Valley FC: The St. Vincent and Grenadines international notched a pair of goals and had five shots overall in the Toros’ playoff-clinching 4-1 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday while also winning 5 of 5 duels and completing 4 of 4 dribbles.

F – Steevan Dos Santos, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The Cape Verde forward scored both goals as the Rowdies took a 2-1 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday while also notching four key passes and winning 8 of 12 duels as Tampa Bay earned the best record in the Championship’s regular season.

***F – Walmer Martinez, Hartford Athletic: The El Salvador international scored his first two goals in the Championship in the Athletic’s 2-0 victory against the Charleston Battery on Tuesday night and completed 22 of 26 passes and one key pass as well.

Bench: Brady Scott (MEM), Akeem Ward (OAK), Rodrigo Lopez (RGV), Steven Sserwada (NY), Gabriel Obertan (CLT), Christian Sorto (RGV), Jeremy Rafanello (NY)

Danny Barrera has won the 2021 Assists Champion Award for the USL Championship. Barrera's 12 assists this season were most in the league and the most he has ever recorded in a single-season. Barrera,  who also added 8 goals in an outstanding 2021 campaign, is now one assist behind Kenardo Forbes for the all-time lead in assists in USL regular season history. This is the first time Barrera has won the Assists Champion Award.

USL CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS: 

TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced on Monday its first official awards for 2021 with a record-tying season by Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC forward Hadji Barry earning him the Championship Golden Boot. Barry was joined in being honored by Tampa Bay Rowdies goalkeeper Evan Louro, who earned the Championship’s Golden Glove, and Hartford Athletic midfielder Danny Barrera, who claimed the Assists Champion award.

A new arrival in Colorado Springs this offseason, Barry had a career season with 25 goals that saw him equal the Championship’s single-season scoring record set by Louisville City FC’s Cameron Lancaster in 2018. The 28-year-old native of Guinea broke through the 50-goal mark for his career in the process and tied for the longest scoring streak in the Championship this season with goals in seven consecutive games between May 14 and June 25. Barry now sits in sixth place all-time in league history with 63 regular season goals.

Louro claimed the first Golden Glove award of his career as the anchor to a standout Tampa Bay Rowdies defense that conceded the fewest goals of any side in the league this season. Louro recorded a goals-against average of 0.74 as he appeared in all-but-one of the Rowdies’ games this season. He also completed the campaign with a league-leading 14 shutouts, one fewer than the single-season record of 15 held by current Canada Men’s National Team goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. Louro’s performance alongside his teammates saw the Rowdies finish the season with the best record in the Championship entering the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs, presented by TwinSpires.

One of the league’s top playmakers for a number of seasons, Barrera earned his first Assists Champion award this campaign after leading the league with 12 assists. Both a standout dead ball specialist and passer in open play, the 31-year-old native of Bogota, Colombia had a second consecutive standout season for the Athletic while ranking third in the league in Chances Created. Barrera is now only one behind first-placed Kenardo Forbes in the Championship’s all-time regular season assists leaders with 44 regular-season assists to his name in the league.

The 2021 USL Championship Golden Boot, Golden Glove and Assists Champion are the opening three awards that will be presented by the league this year. The Championship’s Most Valuable Player, Young Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and the USL Championship All-League Teams will be announced later this month and in early December. 

Danny Barrera has won the 2021 Assists Champion Award for the USL Championship. Barrera’s 12 assists this season were most in the league and the most he has ever recorded in a single-season. Barrera,  who also added 8 goals in an outstanding 2021 campaign, is now one assist behind Kenardo Forbes for the all-time lead in assists in USL regular season history. This is the first time Barrera has won the Assists Champion Award.

USL CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS: 

TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced on Monday its first official awards for 2021 with a record-tying season by Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC forward Hadji Barry earning him the Championship Golden Boot. Barry was joined in being honored by Tampa Bay Rowdies goalkeeper Evan Louro, who earned the Championship’s Golden Glove, and Hartford Athletic midfielder Danny Barrera, who claimed the Assists Champion award.

A new arrival in Colorado Springs this offseason, Barry had a career season with 25 goals that saw him equal the Championship’s single-season scoring record set by Louisville City FC’s Cameron Lancaster in 2018. The 28-year-old native of Guinea broke through the 50-goal mark for his career in the process and tied for the longest scoring streak in the Championship this season with goals in seven consecutive games between May 14 and June 25. Barry now sits in sixth place all-time in league history with 63 regular season goals.

Louro claimed the first Golden Glove award of his career as the anchor to a standout Tampa Bay Rowdies defense that conceded the fewest goals of any side in the league this season. Louro recorded a goals-against average of 0.74 as he appeared in all-but-one of the Rowdies’ games this season. He also completed the campaign with a league-leading 14 shutouts, one fewer than the single-season record of 15 held by current Canada Men’s National Team goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. Louro’s performance alongside his teammates saw the Rowdies finish the season with the best record in the Championship entering the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs, presented by TwinSpires.

One of the league’s top playmakers for a number of seasons, Barrera earned his first Assists Champion award this campaign after leading the league with 12 assists. Both a standout dead ball specialist and passer in open play, the 31-year-old native of Bogota, Colombia had a second consecutive standout season for the Athletic while ranking third in the league in Chances Created. Barrera is now only one behind first-placed Kenardo Forbes in the Championship’s all-time regular season assists leaders with 44 regular-season assists to his name in the league.

The 2021 USL Championship Golden Boot, Golden Glove and Assists Champion are the opening three awards that will be presented by the league this year. The Championship’s Most Valuable Player, Young Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and the USL Championship All-League Teams will be announced later this month and in early December. 

Hartford Athletic earned a difficult point on the road, drawing Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 0-0 on Saturday night. It is the first ever 0-0 draw in the Club's three-year history.

Despite being outshot seventeen to seven, Hartford earned the lion's share of good chances with Pittsburgh only getting one of their seventeen shots on frame. Hartford's defense found a bit of its early season form, blocking six of the Hounds' shots including two each from Arthur Rogers and Luka Prpa. In the 40th minute, Prpa gave Hartford the best chance of the match, letting a shot rip from 30 yards out that was kept out of the net by a diving save from Pittsburgh keeper Danny Vitiello.

The teams went back and forth in the second half. In the 60th minute, Conor McGlynn smashed a ball into the box off a set piece, the usually reliable Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. tried to redirect the ball into the top corner with his head but just sent the ball above the bar. Hartford had the better of the chances in the final 30 minutes of the match but were unable to find the back of the net and emerged with a point.

Hartford finishes the season with a record of 12-15-5 and 41 points, the most wins and points in a season in club history. Hartford will finish fifth out of eight teams in the challenging Atlantic Division this season. Follow the club throughout the offseason for updates on player signings and the 2022 schedule. For fans interested in 2022 season tickets, please visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/tickets. 

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford 7 (3) – 17 (1) Pittsburgh

Corners: Hartford 3-9 Pittsburgh

Fouls: Hartford 18-21 Pittsburgh

Offsides: Hartford 0-1 Pittsburgh

Possession: Hartford 43.6%-56.4% Pittsburgh

Passing Accuracy: Hartford 54.4%-63.3% Pittsburgh

Saves: Hartford 1-3 Pittsburgh

SCORING SUMMARY:

None

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

16' – Danny Barrera (Yellow)

28' – Nico Cardona (Yellow)

43' – Younes Boudadi (Yellow)

54' – Daniel Rovira (Yellow)

57' – Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. (Yellow)

75' – Danny Griffin (Yellow)

90' – Jeff Caldwell (Yellow)

90+1' – Walmer Martinez (Yellow)

90+1' – Jelani Peters (Yellow)

90+4' – Harry Watling (Yellow)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 3 (DF) Younes Boudadi, 80 (DF) Justin Haak, 4 (DF) Nico Cardona, 6 (DF) Arthur Rogers (Ash Apollon, 70'); 11 (MF) Luka Prpa, 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn, 10 (MF) Danny Barrera; 14 (FW) Derek Dodson (Preston Tabort Etaka, 55'), 29 (FW) Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. (Jeciel Cedeño, 89'), 18 (FW) Walmer Martinez

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC  STARTING LINEUP:

1 (GK) Danny Vitiello; 4 (DF) Daniel Rovira (Anthony Velarde, 62'), 16 (DF) Shane Wiedt (Ezra Armstrong, 83'), 27 (DF) Jelani Peters, 17 (DF) Mekiel Williams; 14 (MF) Todd Wharton (Louis Perez, 63'), 11 (MF) Kenardo Forbes, 10 (MF) Russell Cicerone, 7 (FW) Alex Dixon, 12 (MF) Danny Griffin; 8 (FW) Tommy Williamson (Jordan Dover, 63')

Hartford Athletic earned a difficult point on the road, drawing Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 0-0 on Saturday night. It is the first ever 0-0 draw in the Club’s three-year history.

Despite being outshot seventeen to seven, Hartford earned the lion’s share of good chances with Pittsburgh only getting one of their seventeen shots on frame. Hartford’s defense found a bit of its early season form, blocking six of the Hounds’ shots including two each from Arthur Rogers and Luka Prpa. In the 40th minute, Prpa gave Hartford the best chance of the match, letting a shot rip from 30 yards out that was kept out of the net by a diving save from Pittsburgh keeper Danny Vitiello.

The teams went back and forth in the second half. In the 60th minute, Conor McGlynn smashed a ball into the box off a set piece, the usually reliable Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. tried to redirect the ball into the top corner with his head but just sent the ball above the bar. Hartford had the better of the chances in the final 30 minutes of the match but were unable to find the back of the net and emerged with a point.

Hartford finishes the season with a record of 12-15-5 and 41 points, the most wins and points in a season in club history. Hartford will finish fifth out of eight teams in the challenging Atlantic Division this season. Follow the club throughout the offseason for updates on player signings and the 2022 schedule. For fans interested in 2022 season tickets, please visit https://www.hartfordathletic.com/tickets. 

FAST STATS:

Shots (On-Target): Hartford 7 (3) – 17 (1) Pittsburgh

Corners: Hartford 3-9 Pittsburgh

Fouls: Hartford 18-21 Pittsburgh

Offsides: Hartford 0-1 Pittsburgh

Possession: Hartford 43.6%-56.4% Pittsburgh

Passing Accuracy: Hartford 54.4%-63.3% Pittsburgh

Saves: Hartford 1-3 Pittsburgh

SCORING SUMMARY:

None

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

16′ – Danny Barrera (Yellow)

28′ – Nico Cardona (Yellow)

43′ – Younes Boudadi (Yellow)

54′ – Daniel Rovira (Yellow)

57′ – Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. (Yellow)

75′ – Danny Griffin (Yellow)

90′ – Jeff Caldwell (Yellow)

90+1′ – Walmer Martinez (Yellow)

90+1′ – Jelani Peters (Yellow)

90+4′ – Harry Watling (Yellow)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Jeff Caldwell; 3 (DF) Younes Boudadi, 80 (DF) Justin Haak, 4 (DF) Nico Cardona, 6 (DF) Arthur Rogers (Ash Apollon, 70′); 11 (MF) Luka Prpa, 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn, 10 (MF) Danny Barrera; 14 (FW) Derek Dodson (Preston Tabort Etaka, 55′), 29 (FW) Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. (Jeciel Cedeño, 89′), 18 (FW) Walmer Martinez

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC  STARTING LINEUP:

1 (GK) Danny Vitiello; 4 (DF) Daniel Rovira (Anthony Velarde, 62′), 16 (DF) Shane Wiedt (Ezra Armstrong, 83′), 27 (DF) Jelani Peters, 17 (DF) Mekiel Williams; 14 (MF) Todd Wharton (Louis Perez, 63′), 11 (MF) Kenardo Forbes, 10 (MF) Russell Cicerone, 7 (FW) Alex Dixon, 12 (MF) Danny Griffin; 8 (FW) Tommy Williamson (Jordan Dover, 63′)