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

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
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
8 Philadelphia Union II 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 Play-In Round
9 Birmingham Legion FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Hartford Athletic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Sporting Kansas City II 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 0
Updated to match(es) played on March 8, 2020. Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) total wins; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 5) disciplinary points; 6) coin toss or drawing of lots

Match Results

On December 20, 2019, the USL announced the 2020 season schedule, creating the following fixture list for Hartford's season.[24]

March 13 1New York Red Bulls IIP–PHartford AthleticMontclair, NJ
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field
Note: Match postponed due to coronavirus pandemic[25]
March 21 2Hartford AthleticP–PCharleston BatteryHartford, CT
4:00 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
Note: Match postponed due to coronavirus pandemic[25]
March 28 3Saint Louis FCP–PHartford AthleticFenton, MO
8:00 PM EDT Stadium: Toyota Stadium
Note: Match postponed due to coronavirus pandemic[25]
April 4 4Hartford AthleticP–PMemphis 901Hartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
Note: Match postponed due to coronavirus pandemic[25]
April 18 5Hartford AthleticP–PMiami FCHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
Note: Extension of original suspension to May 10 on advice of CDC[26]
April 25 6Hartford AthleticP–PPhiladelphia Union IIHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
Note: Extension of original suspension to May 10 on advice of CDC[26]
May 4 7Indy ElevenP–PHartford AthleticIndianapolis, IN
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium
Note: Extension of original suspension to May 10 on advice of CDC[26]
May 9 8Charlotte IndependenceP–PHartford AthleticMatthews, NC
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Note: Extension of original suspension to May 10 on advice of CDC[26]
May 16 9Hartford AthleticvLouisville CityHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
May 23 10Hartford AthleticvBirmingham Legion FCHartford, CT
TBD PM CDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
May 29 11Pittsburgh Riverhounds SCvHartford AthleticPittsburgh, PA
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Highmark Stadium
June 6 12North Carolina FCvHartford AthleticCary, NC
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
June 13 13Hartford AthleticvTampa Bay RowdiesHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
June 20 14Birmingham Legion FCvHartford AthleticBirmingham, AL
7:30 PM CDT Stadium: BBVA Field
June 25 15Hartford AthleticvSaint Louis FCEast Hartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Rentschler Field
June 28 16New York Red Bulls IIvHartford AthleticMontclair, NJ
5:00 PM EDT Stadium: MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field
July 3 17Philadelphia Union IIvHartford AthleticChester, PA
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Talen Energy Stadium
July 8 18Loudoun UnitedvHartford AthleticWashington, D.C.
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Audi Field
July 15 19Atlanta United 2vHartford AthleticKennesaw, GA
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
July 18 20Hartford AthleticvNorth Carolina FCHartford, CT
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
July 25 21Hartford AthleticvSporting Kansas City IIHartford, CT
6:00 PM Stadium: Dillon Stadium
August 1 22Hartford AthleticvIndy ElevenHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
August 8 23Memphis 901 FCvHartford AthleticMemphis, TN
8:30 PM EDT Stadium: AutoZone Park
August 15 24Hartford AthleticvPhiladelphia Union IIEast Hartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Rentschler Field
August 22 25Hartford AthleticvCharlotte IndependenceEast Hartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Rentschler Field
September 4 26Louisville CityvHartford AthleticLouisville, KY
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field
September 9 27Hartford AthleticvPittsburgh Riverhounds SCHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
September 12 28Charleston BatteryvHartford AthleticCharleston, SC
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium
September 18 29Hartford AthleticvMiami FCHartford, CT
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
September 26 30Hartford AthleticvLoudoun UnitedHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
October 3 31Tampa Bay RowdiesvHartford AthleticSt. Petersburg, FL
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
October 7 32Sporting Kansas City IIvHartford AthleticKansas City, KS
8:00 PM EDT Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
October 10 33Hartford AthleticvAtlanta United 2Hartford, CT
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium
October 17 34Hartford AthleticvNew York Red Bulls IIHartford, CT
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Dillon Stadium

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.[27]

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[28]

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. "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  25. "USL Championship Temporarily Suspends Play". uslchampionship.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  26. "USL Championship Extends Temporary Suspension of Season". uslchampionship.com. March 18, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  27. "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.
  28. "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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