MCLA opens CIAO Classic with win over Norwich

North Adams, Mass- The MCLA Men's soccer team opened the 2009 season with a hard fought 2-1 comeback victory over visiting Norwich University in the CIAO Classic at Ron Shewcraft Field.  MCLA freshman Tedd Cecchetelli (West Springfield, MA) netted the game winner 19:00 into the second half.  MCLA (1-0) will move on to face Western Connecticut State University, a 3-0 winner in game two over Cobleskill tomorrow at noon.

The first half saw each team with opportunities to break through.  Norwich eventually netted the opening goal at the 29:00 minute mark when senior Bobby Begin headed home a corner kick from fellow senior Chris Rivet.  Norwich maintained the narrow lead throughout the remainder of the half.  MCLA would eventually tie the game at the 50:00 minute mark when senior Joe Deady(Belchertown, MA) was fouled in the box.  Senior Tom Murphy (Springfield, MA) was given the penalty kick, he delivered beating keeper Charles Maxwell in the upper left corner.  MCLA would keep on the attack and found the back of the net on Cecchetelli's first career goal.  He scored on a nifty feed from fellow freshman Robert Dalby (Ludlow, MA), narrowly beating Maxwell.

Of his team's performance, Head Coach Adam Hildabrand stated that "we took care of what we could control, kept the pressure on which created some opportunities that we were able to capitalize on."

Norwich would mount some scoring opportunities late, but senior Evan Coe (Hopewell Jct., NY) would make the lead stand up.  Coe earned the victory notching four saves on the day.  Maxwell had seven saves for Norwich.   With the loss, Norwich falls to 0-2 on the young season.