After clinching the regular season title, Hartford City Football Club entered the NPSL North Atlantic Division Playoffs with momentum and belief. Despite a shortened roster and grueling schedule, the squad showed resilience, character, and quality through a dramatic playoff run that fell just short in the final.
In front of a packed home crowd at FSA, Hartford City faced a determined Osner’s FC side in the division semifinal. The visitors from Brooklyn struck first with a stunning long-distance effort that dipped into the top corner, putting Hartford on the back foot early.
Hartford City responded with composure and experience. A surging run from Nick Washington led to a clear scoring opportunity before he was brought down in the box — earning a red card for Osner’s and a penalty for Hartford. Veteran midfielder Nate Becher calmly converted from the spot to level the match, and Osner’s were left to battle with 10 men for the remainder.
Hartford nearly took the lead moments later when a strike from Mark Grant narrowly missed the post but looked to have gone in from some angles. The home side continued to press, with Matteo Azambuja and Daimon Pollard creating chances, but Osner’s held firm, defending deep and countering when possible.
The match remained deadlocked through two tense periods of extra time and moved to penalty kicks. With Julian Ballester in net, Hartford showed nerves of steel. Humienny, Rau, Becher, and Grant all converted confidently. Then Ballester made a crucial diving save to his right, giving Daimon Pollard the chance to win it. The young forward sent the keeper the wrong way and buried the decisive penalty, sending Hartford City to the North Atlantic Division Final with a 5-3 win on penalties.
Hartford nearly took the lead moments later when a strike from Mark Grant narrowly missed the post but looked to have gone in from some angles. The home side continued to press, with Matteo Azambuja and Daimon Pollard creating chances, but Osner’s held firm, defending deep and countering when possible.
The match remained deadlocked through two tense periods of extra time and moved to penalty kicks. With Julian Ballester in net, Hartford showed nerves of steel. Humienny, Rau, Becher, and Grant all converted confidently. Then Ballester made a crucial diving save to his right, giving Daimon Pollard the chance to win it. The young forward sent the keeper the wrong way and buried the decisive penalty, sending Hartford City to the North Atlantic Division Final with a 5-3 win on penalties.
Just days removed from the 120-minute battle with Osner’s, Hartford City squared off against rivals New Haven United in the Conference Final. The effects of fatigue were visible early, but the match remained even, with both teams cautious yet competitive.
New Haven created a dangerous moment off a corner, but Ballester stood tall with a key save. Minutes later, however, misfortune struck—an own goal gave New Haven the lead in what proved to be the decisive moment.
Despite pushing forward in the second half, Hartford struggled to find rhythm against New Haven’s physical and organized defense. Late opportunities from Theo Harris and Jacob Humienny nearly forced extra time, but neither chance found the back of the net. The match ended 1-0, and Hartford’s playoff run came to a heartbreaking close.
Season Reflection
Hartford City FC’s 2025 campaign was defined by a fresh start and fearless football. Under new leadership and with a roster largely composed of first-year players with the club, they captured the regular season crown in convincing fashion, showcasing style, chemistry, and grit.
They played with class, built a strong team culture, and earned respect across the division. Though the playoff dream ended one match short, the foundation laid this season promises an exciting future as players return from their college seasons and the club looks ahead to 2026.
