12 second spurt lifts MCLA past Bridgewater State in Women's Soccer

North Adams, MA- The MCLA Women's Soccer team scored a pair of goals 12 seconds apart to take the lead in the second half and then tacked on two more late in the Trailblazers key 4-1 MASCAC victory over visiting Bridgewater State at frigid Shewcraft Field.

With the win, MCLA improves its overall mark to 7-9 and 2-4 in conference play.  The Bears suffered their first conference loss in falling to 3-1-2 in league play and evening their record at 6-6-2 overall.

Trailblazer freshman Natalie Caney finished with a hat trick for MCLA, while Justine Cozza collected her first marker of the season and Bri Dandurant added a pair of assists.  Caney now has 16 goals on the season, one shy of the freshman record held by Roberta Smith back in 1987.

After Bridgewater held a 1-0 advantage at halftime, MCLA began to take charge in the second half.  In the 60^th minute following a Bear foul just outside the box, Trailblazer Jen Ferrari lofted a ball at BSU keeper Kerry Condon.  Condon was met with a few players and the ball found Cozza all alone to tie the match at 1-1. 

MCLA would change the game just 12 seconds later.  After the Bears turned over the ball on the kickoff, Janelle Stannard sent a thru pass down the middle that found Caney sprinting past the Bear defense.  She made a quick move on Condon and beat her to the lower left corner to make it 2-1 MCLA with still 29 minutes to play.

BSU had a chance at the equalizer just ten minutes later when Erica Jonasson corralled a loose ball after MCLA keeper Danielle Heinsohn was out of the net.  Trailblazer back Darien Sullivan cleared the ball of the line however, keeping MCLA in front.

Caney would strike again to put the game out of reach in the 85^th minute when Dandurant sent a beautiful cross through the Bear defense leaving only Caney and Condon.  Caney once again faked her out, creating an open net and an insurmountable 3-1 advantage.  The duo would connect in the final minute in transition to provide the final margin.

The Bears pressured MCLA early on and broke through in just the 7^th minute when Erica Jonasson connected off a through pass from MacKenzie Hatfield for a 1-0 lead.  The marker was her 13^th of the season.  Bridgewater would control the first twenty minutes before MCLA began to turn the tide. 

Bridgewater held a 19-15 shot advantage on the afternoon, while MCLA held a slim 3-2 edge in corners.

Heinsohn stopped 9 shots for MCLA while Condon made three stops for Bridgewater.

The Trailblazers will wrap up their regular season next Saturday when they travel to Mass. Maritime Academy.