Women’s Soccer Toppled by Russell Sage 4-0

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.—The MCLA Women's Soccer team found themselves fighting from behind early and, in the end, were unable to solve the Sage Gators defense, falling by a score of 4-0.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Monday, October 16, 2023
• Score: Sage 4, MCLA 0
• Records: Russell Sage Gators 6-4-3 (Empire 8 2-2-2) | MCLA Trailblazers 3-8-2 (MASCAC 0-5-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• For the second straight game, MCLA found themselves on their heels as the play was spent mostly in their defensive end. Unlike their game Saturday against Salem State, the visitors from Sage were able to break through the Trailblazers' defense before the final minute.
• Alexis Crossman scored the first Sage goal in the 19^th minute. Delaney Burton took a pass from midfield and split through three Trailblazer defenders to push the ball ahead to a barely onside Crossman at the top of the penalty box. Crossman continued the push and then caught up to the ball in three strides to fire a shot from about six yards out into the lower left corner of the goal.
• About 15 minutes later, Sage doubled their lead on the foot of Kennedy Jones, who scored her fourth of the year into the short side of the goal that must have had eyes to fit through the limited space left to Jones. Katelyn Nelson was credited with the assist on the goal.
• The Gators were able to push the lead to three with just over five minutes remaining in the first half, thanks to an unassisted goal from Gianna Viscusi. Viscusi cut off an attempt by an MCLA defender to clear the ball from the center of the penalty circle, took one step, and fired a shot off the inside of the right post and into the goal.
• Sage would score what would turn out to be their final goal in the 58^th minute as the Trailblazers failed to clear a corner kick that passed in front of the net and eventually found its way to Gabriella Marchello. Marchello settled the ball and got off a shot through traffic into the upper portion of the goal.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• MCLA keeper Eva Eberwein recorded her sixth double-digit save game of the season and second in as many games, stopping 15 of 19 shots on goal.
• The Gators enjoyed a 31-10 edge in shots, including a 15-5 advantage in shots on goal.
• Sage also had an eight-to-zero advantage in corner kicks.

UP NEXT:

On Saturday, MCLA will be back in action when they travel to Fitchburg State for a MASCAC matchup with the Falcons at Elliot Field Athletic Complex. The teams will take the pitch for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff.