MCLA 4, Worcester State 3 OT
North Adams, MA --- Sophomore forward Danielle Parenteau (Southampton, MA) scored a hat-trick to lead MCLA women's soccer to a 4-3 overtime victory over conference visitor Worcester State College. The fans at Ron Shewcraft Field were treated to a seven goal, hard fought game between the two teams.
Last season Worcester State represented the MASCAC in the NCAA national tournament going all the way to the Sweet 16. Since 1998, the Lancers have kept the Trailblazers out of the win column, but history was to take a new turn this afternoon.
It looked early on as if Worcester State would continue their winning ways scoring just three minutes into the game when senior Tiffany Rotatori (Auburn, MA) continued to stay hot when she took a feed from Danielle Clifford (Attleboro, MA)Nikki Scott (Berlin, MA) dished a helper to Rotatori in the 6th minute, for her team leading seventh goal of the season.
The Lancers held a quick 2-0 lead for the first 26 minutes until first-year midfielder Kaitlyn Dano (Schoharie, NY) slotted a ball across the box to Parenteau to the Trailblazers on the board. Worcester State would add another to their lead in the 35th minute when Sarah Connors (Gardner, MA) found the back of the net behind Trailblazer goalkeeper Cece Von Tiesnhausen-Hush (Arlington, VT) for her first goal of the 2008 season.
The second half would prove to be much different and the tables turned with MCLA jumping on the board with a goal four minutes into the half. Junior midfielder Erin Bourque (Amesbury, MA) stripped the ball from the Lancers back and converted it into a near-post goal past Rachael Armenti (West Boylston, MA).
In the 52nd minute Gaby Fernandez (New Hyde Park, NY) played a ball up the middle to MCLA leading scorer, Jess Tietgens (Stamford, VT). Tietgens took the ball to goal but instead of shooting found Parenteau in the middle of the box for the game tieing goal. For the remainder of regulation the teams battled back a forth with opportunities but nothing was converted.
The best opportunities for both teams came with just minutes left. With only seconds left Clifford took a low hard shot to the corner for the game winner, but Von Tiesenhausen-Hush made her best save out of her 12 on the day to keep the game tied.
Coming back from a deficit is nothing new to the Trailblazers as five of their seven wins have been come from behind wins. This was also the second time MCLA needed overtime to get the win. Just over seven minutes into the first overtime the Trailblazers were awarded a free kick from 35 yards out. Jade Prickett (Westhampton, MA) shot went over the wall and clinked off the crossbar just above Armenti's head. Parenteau was right there to collect the rebound and drive it in to the back of the net for the Trailblazers seventh win of the season.
MCLA (7-2-0, 1-1-0) will host Sage College on Tuesday at 4:00 and Worcester State (5-2-1, 1-1-0) will travel to Keene State on Wednesday for a 5:00 kick-off.
Release Courtesy of MCLA Sports Infomation