MCLA falls to Bridgewater on Penalty Kicks in MASCAC semifinals
The top seeded MCLA Women's Soccer team fell to fourth seeded Bridgewater State on Penalty kicks after both teams battled to a 0-0 standoff in double overtime. MCLA will await a postseason bid to be announced next week.
North Adams, MA- The fourth seeded Bridgewater State University Bears (6-9-2) upset the top seeded MCLA Trailblazers (10-2-6) on Penalty kicks (4-2) to advance to the MASCAC finals this afternoon at Shewcraft Field. The Bears won the shootout 4-2 to move on to the finals where they will travel to either Worcester or Westfield on Saturday.
Both teams displayed a stingy defense throughout the game and overtime. Bridgewater held a decisive 17-10 shot advantage throughout regulation, but both sides saw few scoring opportunities.
MCLA began the shootout with junior Kaitlyn Dano (Schoharie, NY) who hit the left post. Bridgewater sent up senior Aly Johnson (Stamford, Ct) who buried the shot for an early lead. Bridgewater keeper Kayla Grover would stop MCLA's Lauren Ford (Vorheesville, NY) before Bear Katie Nasuti (Millbury, MA) gave Bridgewater a commanding 2-0 advantage.
The Trailblazers would sandwich a pair of conversions from Lindsay Borbolla (Greenwich, NY) and MASCAC Player of the Year Jess Tietgens (Stamford, VT) around Bridgewater's third consecutive tally from Amanda Vigneault (Ludlow, MA) for a 3-2 advantage. That set the stage for senior Christina Amaral (Chicopee, MA) who would bury the game winner in the upper right corner sending the Bears into the MASCAC finals.
In regulation each team had an opportunity to break the ice, but neither could convert. Bridgewater would control much of the first half action, with MCLA ratcheting up the pressure towards the end of regulation. Bears forward Kylie Beaton had an opportunity in the 77th minute but MCLA keeper Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, NY) made a sprawling save.
Tietgens had an opportunity from close range with under a minute in the first overtime, but her shot sailed over the crossbar.
Both teams received outstanding performances from their backs as Bridgewater sweeper Aly Johnson kept the MCLA offense at bay, while Kaitlyn Dano did the same for MCLA.
Wehner would finish the day with six saves, while her counterpart Grover would collect four.