The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Naglestad shines in Hartford Athletic debut
Markus Naglestad certainly knows how to make an entrance.
Naglestad had a debut to remember for Hartford Athletic on Sunday night nearly 10 years after Naglestad had a goal and two assists in his first game with the University of Bridgeport men’s soccer program. That pales in comparison to what he did at Dillon Stadium.
Naglestad came on at halftime with the Athletic trailing Loudoun United 1-0. It was a 2-0 deficit when Naglestad’s free kick in the 86th minute eluded the outstretched arms of Loudoun United goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre to make it a 2-1 game. Another free kick in the 89th minute rang off the crossbar with Alex Dixon putting the rebound into the net as Hartford rallied for the 2-2 tie.
“It was nice,” said Naglestad, who scored 23 goals in 33 games for the University of Bridgeport men’s soccer program in 2010 and 2011 before finishing his college career at Providence. “A debut is always special, a little extra special coming in at halftime chasing [the lead]. As a striker, that is what you want to come in and turn the game for the team. We were close. We got a point which was not bad being down two goals.”
This is Naglestad’s first time playing in Connecticut since appearing in three games with Connecticut FC Azul in 2012. He spent the last seven years playing in Norway.
Being a part of a memorable comeback was a pretty impressive starting point for Naglestad’s USL Championship debut.
“I’ve played a lot of games in my career so certain scenarios, I’ve been chasing leads before or chasing being down a goal, I’ve come back to win and I have not so just gaining a point has been massive for us,” Naglestad said.
Naglestad’s signing was announced last week, but he had spent some time practicing with Hartford and getting used to his new teammates.
“It is our first time playing in an actual match together, we scrimmaged a couple times in practice so we are just trying to figure each other out,” Dixon said. “He is a free-kick specialist so as soon as he got that [opportunity], he put it on target and he could have two or three. He is a good player and a good addition to the team.”
The tie moved Hartford into a tie with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds atop the Group F standings with 16 points although Pittsburgh has played nine matches and Hartford just seven.
The teams will meet on Friday at 7 p.m. at Dillon Stadium.
“Those are the games that you want to play,” Naglestad said. “They are the best team, I guess along with us in this whole group. It is going to be a great test.”