2020 Hartford Athletic season

The 2020 Hartford Athletic season is the club's second season of existence and their second in the USL Championship, the second tier of American soccer.[1] This article covers the period from October 20, 2019, the day after Hartford's final match of the 2019 regular season, to the conclusion of the 2020 USL-C Playoff Final, scheduled for November 12–16, 2020.[2]

Hartford Athletic
2020 season
OwnerHartford Sports Group
Head coachRadhi Jaïdi
StadiumDillon Stadium
USL ChampionshipConference: TBD
USLC PlayoffsTBD
U.S. Open CupSecond Round
Biggest win4–1
(August 2 vs. Loudoun United)
Biggest defeat1–4
(July 29 at Indy Eleven)

Season in Review

Background, Off-Season and Pre-Season

Hartford finished its inaugural season in next to last place in the Eastern Conference, seven table positions and fourteen points out of the playoff spots. The club parted ways with head coach Jimmy Nielsen[3] just seven days after the 2019 season's end and signed former Southampton U-23 coach Radhi Jaïdi to fill the vacancy on November 8.[4] The club also parted ways with COO Donovan Powell five days later.[5]

The club began announcing roster moves in October, also, quickly announcing the return of four players from the 2019 roster (Harry Swartz, Alex Dixon, Alex Davey, and Nicky Downs),[6] with the return of Danny Barrera[7] and Mads Jørgensen[8] being announced in early November, and the return of Mike Novotny[9] being announced in early December. New signings began in earnest in late November with the addition of Aiden Mesias,[10] former Fresno FC defender Sam Strong,[11] Brazilian defender Gabriel Torres,[12] 2019 Greenville Triumph center back Kevin Politz,[13] Cal State Northridge products Dre Deas[14] and Alex Lara,[15] Dartmouth midfielder Noah Paravicini,[16] and UT-Rio Grande Valley midfielder Arthur Rogers.[17] In January, the club signed San Antonio FC's all-time leading scorer Éver Guzmán,[18] Brazilian defender Matheus Silva,[19] and announced the return of forward Mac Steeves.[20] In February, the club announced loan deals for goalkeeper Parfait Mandanda[21] and Southampton U-23 midfielder Tyreke Johnson.[22]

Roster
As of January 15, 2019[23]
No. Position Player Nation
2 Defender Alex Lara  United States
3 Defender Matheus Silva  Brazil
4 Defender Kevin Politz  United States
5 Defender Alex Davey  Scotland
6 Midfielder Arthur Rogers  England
7 Midfielder Noah Paravicini  United States
8 Midfielder Mads Jørgensen  Denmark
9 Forward Mac Steeves  United States
10 Midfielder Danny Barrera  United States
11 Forward Alex Dixon  United States
16 Midfielder Gabriel Torres  Brazil
18 Goalkeeper Mike Novotny  United States
21 Midfielder Nicky Downs  United States
23 Midfielder Aiden Mesias  England
24 Defender Sam Strong  United States
33 Midfielder Harry Swartz  United States
35 Goalkeeper Parfait Mandanda (on loan from Charleroi)  DR Congo
42 Forward Dre Deas  United States
88 Midfielder Tyreke Johnson (on loan from Southampton)  England
99 Forward Éver Guzmán  Mexico

Competitions

USL Championship
Main article: 2020 USL Championship season

Standings — Group F
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Hartford Athletic 6 5 0 1 14 9 +5 15 Advance to USL Championship Playoffs
2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 7 4 0 3 18 6 +12 12
3 New York Red Bulls II 8 2 0 6 12 15 −3 6
4 Loudoun United FC 5 1 1 3 4 10 −6 4
5 Philadelphia Union II 6 1 1 4 6 20 −14 4
Updated to match(es) played on August 15, 2020. Source: USL

Match Results

In the preparations for the resumption of league play following the shutdown prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, Hartford's schedule was announced on July 2.[24]

July 17 1New York Red Bulls II0–1Hartford AthleticMontclair, NJ
7:00 PM EDT Corfe  78'
Elney  90+4'		 Report Guzmán  12'
Silva  53'
Barrera  62'
Downs  89'
Deas  90+3'		 Stadium: MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field
Referee: Joshua Encarnación
July 20 2Hartford Athletic3–1Loudoun UnitedHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Politz  3'
Swartz  45'
Johnson  55'
Dixon  65'		 Report Amoh  43',  58' (pen.)
Doue  90'		 Stadium: Dillon Stadium
Referee: Adam Kilpatrick
July 25 3Hartford Athletic3–2Philadelphia Union IIHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Silva  29'
Torres  39'
Jørgensen  43'
Guzmán  53'
McGlynn  66'		 Report Scintu  4'
Picazo  16'
Kingue  90+7'		 Stadium: Dillon Stadium
Referee: Thomas Snyder
July 29 4Indy Eleven4–1Hartford AthleticIndianapolis, IN
7:00 PM EDT Moon  4'
Pasher  51'
Conner  81'
Watson  87'		 Report Swartz  33'
Davey  45+5'
Dixon  46'
Silva  90+3'		 Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium
Attendance: 4,775
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
August 2 5Hartford Athletic4–1Loudoun UnitedHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Guzmán  7',  18'
Lara  45'
Barrera  66'
Dixon  84'
Torres  90+3'
Vazquez Villar  90+8'		 Report Amoh  21' (pen.),  56' Stadium: Dillon Stadium
Referee: Jeremy Scheer
August 9 6Philadelphia Union IIP–PHartford AthleticChester, PA
TBA PM EDT Stadium: Talen Energy Stadium
Note: Match postponed due to positive covid-19 test in the Union II organization.[25]
August 15 7Hartford Athletic2–1New York Red Bulls IIHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Dixon  21'
Silva  27'
Strong  40',  86'
Johnson  45+3'		 Report LaCava  59'
Elney  74'		 Stadium: Dillon Stadium
Attendance: 1,375
Referee: Ernie Constantine
August 19 8Philadelphia Union IIvHartford AthleticChester, PA
TBA PM EDT Stadium: Talen Energy Stadium
August 23 9Hartford AthleticvLoudoun UnitedHartford, CT
TBA PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
August 28 10Hartford AthleticvPittsburgh Riverhounds SCHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
September 5 11Hartford AthleticvLoudoun UnitedHartford, CT
TBA PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
September 12 12Pittsburgh Riverhounds SCvHartford AthleticPittsburgh, PA
TBA PM EDT Stadium: Highmark Stadium
September 16 13Hartford AthleticvNew York Red Bulls IIHartford, CT
TBA PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
September 20 14Hartford AthleticvPhiladelphia Union IIHartford, CT
TBA PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
September 26 15Pittsburgh Riverhounds SCvHartford AthleticPittsburgh, PA
TBA PM EDT Stadium: Highmark Stadium
October 4 16New York Red Bulls IIvHartford AthleticMontclair, NJ
TBA PM EDT Stadium: MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field



U.S. Open Cup
Main article: 2020 U.S. Open Cup

As a USL Championship club, Hartford will enter the competition in the Second Round, to be played April 7–9.[26]

April 9 2nd RoundHartford Athletic P–P Western Mass Pioneers or
GPS Portland Phoenix		Hartford, CT
7:00 pm EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
Note: Match postponed due to coronavirus pandemic[27]
gollark: 🐪
gollark: I think she means "technology" as in "whatever wasn't around in my childhood".
gollark: . ..
gollark: And that without "technology" we'd be hunter-gatherers, struggle to stay alive, have a life expectancy of a few decades tops, and have far worse quality of life.
gollark: Please tell her that I said that it's horrendously ill-defined to say technology.

References
  1. "Hartford Athletic – Our Story". HartfordAthletic.com. Hartford Athletic. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  2. "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". 9 January 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  3. "Hartford Athletic, Jimmy Nielsen agree to part ways". New England Soccer Journal. October 27, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  4. "Hartford Athletic names Radhi Jaidi as head coach". New England Soccer Journal. November 8, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  5. "Hartford Athletic and COO Part Ways; Andy Smith Named Interim Team President". www.hartfordathletic.com. November 13, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  6. "Hartford Athletic Welcomes Back Four Players for 2020 Season". www.hartfordathletic.com. October 30, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  7. "Danny Barrera Returning to Hartford Athletic for 2020 Season". www.hartfordathletic.com. November 5, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  8. "Mads Jørgensen Returning to Hartford Athletic for 2020 Season". www.hartfordathletic.com. November 14, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  9. "Mike Novotny Returning in 2020". www.hartfordathletic.com. December 4, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  10. "Hartford Athletic Signs English Midfielder Aiden Mesias". www.hartfordathletic.com. November 25, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  11. "Defender Sam Strong Joins Hartford Athletic". www.hartfordathletic.com. December 2, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  12. "Hartford Athletic Signs Defender Gabriel Torres". www.hartfordathletic.com. December 9, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  13. "Hartford Athletic Signs Defender Kevin Politz". www.hartfordathletic.com. December 10, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  14. "Forward Dre Deas Joins 2020 Roster". www.hartfordathletic.com. December 12, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  15. "Hartford Athletic Signs Defender Alex Lara". www.hartfordathletic.com. December 13, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  16. "Hartford Athletic Signs Midfielder Noah Paravacini". www.hartfordathletic.com. December 18, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  17. "Midfielder Arthur Rogers Signs for 2020 Season". www.hartfordathletic.com. December 23, 2019.
  18. "Athletic Sign San Antonio FC All-Time Leading Scorer, Ever Guzmán". www.hartfordathletic.com. December 23, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  19. "Hartford Athletic Signs Defender Matheus Silva". www.hartfordathletic.com. January 14, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  20. "Return of the Mac: Steeves Returning for 2020". www.hartfordathletic.com. January 15, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  21. "Hartford Athletic Acquires Goalkeeper Parfait Mandanda on Loan". www.hartfordathletic.com. February 20, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  22. "Southampton's Tyreke Johnson Joins Hartford Athletic on Loan". www.hartfordathletic.com. February 24, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  23. "Hartford Athletic roster". HartfordAthletic.com. Hartford Athletic. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  24. "Hartford Athletic Announces 2020 USL Schedule". hartfordathletic.com. July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  25. "Philadelphia Union II Match Against Hartford Athletic Rescheduled". Philadelphia Union. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  26. "Restructured Competition Format For 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Provides Opportunity For More "David vs. Goliath" Matchups In 107th Edition Of U.S. Soccer's National Championship". U.S. Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  27. "U.S. Soccer Temporarily Suspends 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Due to COVID-19 Outbreak". ussoccer.com. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
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