MCLA ready to defend regular season MASCAC Championship
The MCLA Women's Soccer team is poised to defend their 2010 regular season MASCAC Championship as they open their season on Friday hosting UMass-Boston. Led by reigning MASCAC Coach of the Year, Deb Raber, the Trailblazers will rely heavily on their returning defensive unit.
NORTH ADAMS, MA- The MCLA Women's Soccer team is coming off a remarkable season a year ago (11-3-6, 4-0-3 MASCAC) that included a regular season MASCAC championship, a berth in the ECAC New England Semifinals, and a 15 game unbeaten streak.
The Trailblazers were in control throughout the season as they led the league in both scoring and defense. MCLA will look to continue their recent success without all time leading scorer, Jess Tietgens, who tallied 199 career points in a Trailblazer uniform. She was also the MASCAC Player of the Year in 2010.
Head Coach Deb Raber, who enters her 12th season, will turn to a stingy defense that returns all its key performers from last season. Heading up the list would be senior All MASCAC goalkeeper Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, NY). Wehner has collected first team all league honors in each of the last two seasons. She allowed only 11 goals all season a year ago while sporting a 10-2-5 mark as a starter.
Raber said, "With a solid core of returning players and a promising group of newcomers, this season looks very bright. The women have been working very hard throughout preseason pushing each other each day to improve and to learn our system."
While Wehner grabs much of the attention, the Trailblazers will also return a pair of defenders in all MASCAC first teamer Kaitlyn Dano (Schoharie, NY) as well as fellow senior Lauren Ford (Vorheesville, NY). Both were instrumental in the Trailblazers success a year ago.
While MCLA returns veterans on defense, new faces will appear on offense. The Trailblazers must replace their top three scorers from a year ago. Aside from Tietgens, MCLA also graduated Danielle Parenteau while junior Lindsay Borbolla is out with an injury. Junior forward Bri Bressett (Adams, MA) is the top returning threat as she collected six goals last season. Also looking to make a splash this spring is sophomores Sarah Lieneck (Ashby, MA). Senior Jackie Nash (Norton, MA) should see plenty of action as an attacker as well.
The schedule should be challenging for the Trailblazers as they open at home against UMass-Boston on Friday, September 2nd before traveling to Smith College on the 5th. MCLA will host a pair of non leagues matchups before traveling to Worcester State for the MASCAC opener on the 17th.
For complete schedules and rosters, please log on to http://athletics.mcla.edu