NEWARK, N.J., March 18, 2026 – Midfielder Andrés Hernández had a goal and an assist while goalie Enzo Carvalho picked up a shutout in his first career start to lead the Hartford Athletic soccer team to a 2-0 win over FC Motown on Wednesday night in the first round of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament.
FC Motown is a USL League 2 team. Hartford improves to 2-0-1 on the year and 1-0-1 in USL Championship play.
With the home opener just around the corner and head coach Brendan Burke opting to manage minutes for the regular season ahead, Hartford’s reserves and emerging talents were thrust into the spotlight, and they delivered in impressive fashion.
It was Hernández who set the tone early, swinging in a pinpoint corner kick that TJ Presthus met with authority, heading home his first goal of the season in what was also his first start of the year.
The midfielder (Hernández) stepped up to a free kick later in the match and curled a sublime effort into the back of the net, sealing the victory and capping off a brilliant individual performance with a goal and an assist on the night.
Between the posts, goalkeeper Enzo Carvalho rose to the occasion in his first career start for Hartford, commanding his area and keeping a clean sheet from start to finish, a performance that will only fuel confidence heading into the season.
Hartford hosts their first home game at Trinity Health Stadium, on March 28 at 5 p.m. when they face Indy Eleven.
The Athletic return to action on Saturday when they travel to Brooklyn to face Brooklyn FC for the first time at Maimonides Park at 7 p.m.
