#3 MCLA 3, #2 Worcester State 2 - MASCAC Tournament
Worcester, MA --- Junior forward Jess Tietgens (Stanford, VT) recorded a hat-trick to lead third-seeded MCLA to a 3-2 upset victory over #2 Worcester State in the semifinal round of the MASCAC Women's Soccer Tournament.
The Trailblazers, who are making the first appearance in the nine-year history of the MASCAC tournament, advance to the championship game to play top-seeded Westfield State on Saturday. The Owls defeated #4 Bridgewater State, 2-1, earlier this evening.
With the setback, the Lancers (9-6-3) await word on a possible ECAC New England Tournament bid on selection Monday.
MCLA (14-4) broke through the Worcester State defense early on in the opening frame as junior Danielle Parenteau (Southampton, MA) found Teitgens alone in front of the net as she scored in the 5th minute.
The Lancers dominated possession of the ball for the remainder of the period as they outshot the visitors 16-4, but they could not finish on the other end of the field.
A good majority of WSC's attempts came from 25 yards away from the net. Sophomore keeper Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, NY) stopped all five shots she saw on net while MCLA also added a team save by senior Jade Prickett (Westhampton, MA) who stepped up and rejected an attempt by sophomore Danielle Clifford (Attleboro, MA) in the 33rd minute.
With MCLA up 1-0 entering the second stanza, Clifford netted the equalizer in the 49th minute as junior Sarah Connors (Gardner, MA) set her up with the shot.
Worcester State then failed to convert three corner kick opportunities in a nine minute span before Tietgen's put the Trailblazers up for good in the 60th minute as freshman Brianna Bresett (Adams, MA) added the helper on the play.
Over the next 25 minutes of play, the Lancers tried everything they could do to tie the score, but MCLA played solid defense and Wehner was outstanding as she scooped up the three shots she saw on net.
Tietgen's delivered the final blow in the 86th minute for her MASCAC-leading 25th tally of the season on an unassisted marker to put MCLA up 3-1.
Sophomore Sarah Rafferty (Uxbridge, MA) helped the Lancers get within one with 1:37 left on the clock, but in the waning seconds of the contest WSC couldn't fire a shot to threaten.
Worcester State had a commanding 30-8 lead in shots and a 10-1 edge in corners. 30 shots was also a season-high for the Blue and Gold.
Wehner improved her record to 12-4 as she made 10 saves for MCLA while junior Rachael Armenti (West Boylston, MA) turned aside three shots in the setback.