ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Hartford Athletic earned its first point of the season as it held defending Eastern Conference title holders the Tampa Bay Rowdies to a 1-1 draw before a crowd of 6,061 fans at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night.

The visitors grabbed an early lead in the sixth minute when after an initial shot was blocked outside the top-right edge of the penalty area, Hartford recycled possession and pulled play centrally for Joel Johnson to unleash a curling strike to the top-right corner from 25 yards. Tampa Bay’s Jake LaCava had a chance to equalize in the 19th minute but had his low shot from the right side of the penalty area saved by Hartford’s Austin Pack before the rebound was cleared, but six minutes before halftime LaCava’s endeavor was rewarded as after Pack came off his line to try and deal with a through-ball, and LaCava blocked an attempt to clear by a defender that redirected the ball into the open net for his third goal of the season.

Tampa Bay continued to carry its momentum into the second half and in the 49th minute, Leo Fernandes was slipped into the penalty area but shot over the crossbar from seven yards. The Rowdies’ Jordan Scarlett also had a chance off a corner kick by Lewis Hilton on the left, but his header skidded wide of the far post, while Juan Tejada forced a scrambling save by Pack that saw the Hartford goalkeeper get enough purchase on the ball to keep it away from a lurking Lucky Mkosana. Despite the Rowdies’ pressure, Hartford’s defense held firm to earn a valuable road point for the Athletic’s first this season.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Jake LaCava, Tampa Bay Rowdies – LaCava created his own luck for his third goal of the season, and had two shots on target and completed 11 of 14 passes overall before being substituted late on.

Scoring Summary
HFD – Joel Johnson (Prince Saydee) 6’
TBR – Jake LaCava 39’

Full Box Score