Women's Soccer poised to continue winning ways, open against Hamilton tomorrow
The MCLA Women's Soccer program, who return 18 players from last years record setting squad, open their season tomorrow at home against Hamilton. Trailblazer senior scoring machine Jess Tietgens will continue her stellar career as she begins her assault towards her 200th point.
North Adams, MA- After back to back record setting seasons under head coach Deb Raber, the MCLA Women's Soccer program is poised to continue their winning ways as they welcome back a host of veterans as they open the 2010 regular season. After earning a trip to the conference finals in 2009, as well as an ECAC postseason bid, MCLA will return 18 players from a year ago. The Trailblazers have set high expectations heading into their season opener on Saturday at home against Hamilton. The Trailblazers were selected to finish third in the MASCAC preseason poll, their highest ranking during Raber's tenure.
MCLA will return three All Conference players and their top two scorers from a year ago. Spearheading all the attention will be All Region performer and MCLA's all time leading scorer, senior forward Jess Tietgens (Stamford, VT). For the second consecutive season, Tietgens broke the school's single season scoring records. She led the MASCAC in scoring and tallied a goal in all but two games last season. For the year, she amassed a whopping 30 goals. Tietgens was ranked nationally in the top ten in both goals and points per game last season.
Joining Tietgens to form a powerful one-two punch is sophomore Lindsay Borbolla (Greenwich, NY). Borbolla accounted for nine goals and four assists in her inaugural campaign alongside Tietgens. Senior forward Danielle Parenteau (Southampton, MA) bounced back from an early season arm injury to earn second team All Conference honors in 2009. In only 12 starts she totaled three goals and seven assists. Fellow senior Samantha Miller (Reading, MA) also returns. Miller should see her numbers improve feeding a powerful front line as she tallied three assists last season.
With a ton of firepower up front, MCLA will also return first team All MASCAC goalkeeper, junior Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, NY). Wehner, who started every game but one last year, notched six shutouts on the season. She would finish 2009 with a tidy 1.08 GAA, while finishing sixth nationally in save percentage (0.91).
Trying to repeat the steps taken over the last two seasons will not be easy. MCLA opens with a pair of games at home against a tough Hamilton squad on Saturday, while entertaining Smith College on Labor Day. The Trailblazers will be looking to avenge a pair of shutout defeats from their opening weekend a year ago. The home field advantage was kind to the Trailblazers in 2009 as they went 9-1 on Ron Shewcraft Field. It will be important to play well at home as MCLA will play only seven games on their home field in 2010 as opposed to ten on the road.
The Trailblazers open MASCAC play on Saturday September 18th against Worcester State College. Other conference home dates include Salem State and Fitchburg State.
For a complete schedule and roster, please log onto http://athletics.mcla.edu