Tietgens stands alone in record books
MCLA junior Jess Tietgens broke the school record for goals in a career Saturday against Bard College. Her 42nd career goal broke the previous mark held by Jen Maloney.
North Adams, MA- Someone once said that records were meant to be broken. Usually those records fall over the length of a career, not in just over two seasons. When Jess Tietgens and her teammates began the 2009 season, everyone knew it was only a matter of time. Tietgens was just two goals shy of setting the career record for goals scored at MCLA. On Saturday, the inevitable happened.
Facing Bard College, Tietgens took a feed from Sam Miller, finding the back of the net in the 26th minute of play. It was her 42nd career goal at MCLA breaking the mark previously held by Jen Maloney ('95). "Sam put the ball exactly where I wanted it. It was a perfect pass and I was able to beat the keeper to the opposite corner," Tietgens explained about the record breaking goal. She has been beating goal keepers since she first donned a MCLA uniform.
Tietgens burst onto the scene at MCLA during her freshmen season. She scored 15 goals while garnering the MASCAC Rookie of the Year award. If she burst onto the scene as a freshman, she exploded as a sophomore. The Trailblazer set a pair of school records in 2008. She set marks for goals in a season with 25, as well as points in a season with 59. Tietgens is much more than a prolific goal scorer though.
She has been an integral part in turning around the soccer program. In her career, MCLA has notched a record of 23-13. She has been a part of back to back winning seasons, the first in the program since 1990-1991. Head Coach Deb Raber said of Tietgens, "I am so proud to coach Jess. She is a special talent and a special person. She has raised the bar for MCLA Women's Soccer."
Now that the record has fallen, Tietgens is focused on sending this team forward toward conference play. "The record is now off of my shoulders, I no longer have to think about it. We can now look ahead to the rest of the season" Tietgens said. She is referring to the team's MASCAC schedule on the horizon. The Trailblazers have narrowly missed out on the playoffs the last two seasons.
Her and the rest of the Trailblazers return to action on Wednesday when they host Castleton State College at 4pm at Ron Shewcraft Field.