MCLA Sneaks Past Fitchburg State, 2-1

Taylor nets first goal of the season in Falcons conference loss

FITCHBURG, Mass. (October 23, 2009) - The Fitchburg State women's soccer team suffered its fourth conference loss of the season, falling to MCLA, 2-1 in MASCAC action this evening.

LINDSAY TAYLOR

Senior Jess Tietgens (Stamford, Vt./Drury) added to her stellar career season, netting the game-winning goal for the Trailblazers in the 87th minute of the match, while classmate Jade Prickett (Westhampton, Mass./Hampshire Regional) added one score and one helper. Sophomore Lindsay Taylor (Blythewood, S.C./Blythewood) netted the lone goal for the Falcons.

MCLA kicked off the scoring early in the first half as Prickett tallied for her fourth goal of the season just 2:51 into the match. The veteran midfielder gave the Trailblazers an early edge, connecting on a header to the upper right corner of the net off sophomore Lauren Ford's (Chatham, N.Y./Chatham) cross pass.

Fitchburg State answered immediately, netting the equalizer less than five minutes later. Taylor got the Falcons on the board with her first goal of the season, taking a Lauren Wundt (Southwick, Mass./Southwick-Tolland) dish with her left foot and depositing it to the lower right corner of the net. The Falcons created another scoring opportunity late in the half as Wudnt blasted a shot from ten yards out, but sophomore goalkeeper Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, N.Y./Cooperstown) made a jumping save to tip the ball over the cross bar.

In the second half, play remained even as neither team's defense allowed the ball into the box. Fitchburg State created a pair of scoring opportunities early in the frame, but MCLA sealed its conference-leading, fifth victory of the season as Tietgens sent home her 20th marker of the season. Tietgens took Prickett's feed from midfield and slipped it past the left side of Falcon keeper Emily Swan (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) to clinch a Trailblazer post-season berth.

MCLA held a slim 10-8 lead in shots, but neither team was able to muster offense with only seven total shots in the second half. Swan notched two saves in her complete game effort for the Falcons, while Wehner stopped four shots for the visiting Trailblazers

Fitchburg State (4-10-1, 2-4-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Tuesday as it travels to Plymouth State University at 4:30 p.m. MCLA (12-3-0, 5-1-0 MASCAC) will visit Sage College on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

MCLA 2, Fitchburg State 1

Scoring:
First Half: MCL: Jade Prickett (Lauren Ford); 2:51; FIT: Lindsay Taylor (Lauren Wundt), 7:48;
Second Half: MCL: Jess Tietgens (Prickett), 86:52
Goaltending: FIT: Emily Swan (90:00), two saves; MCL: Jen Wehner (90:00), four saves;
Shots: FIT: 8 ; MCL: 10