MCLA wins sixth straight, battles past RPI 3-1
North Adams, MA- Freshman Lindsay Borbolla (Greenwich, NY) netted the game winning goal in the 58th minute in leading the Trailblazers to their sixth straight victory 3-1 over visiting RPI. MCLA, who has won eleven of their last twelve, improve to 11-3, while the Redhawks fall to 4-9-1.
The first half opened with the Redhawks holding a decisive advantage. RPI was the aggressor and opened the scoring in just the 2nd minute of play when Nikki Goodsell (Danbury, CT) took a cross from Kelsey Byrne (Rye, NH) giving the Redhawks an early 1-0 advantage. RPI would continue their aggressive play for the next ten minutes but could not convert.
MCLA would even the score when leading scorer Jess Tietgens (Stamford, VT) notched her 19th goal of the season beating Melissa Pinsonneault (Hudson, NH) at the 18 minute mark. Tietgens took a great through pass in transition from MCLA captain Jade Prickett (Southampton, MA) and beat the keeper to the right post. RPI would outshoot the Trailblazers by a wide margin in the first half, 14-4, but could not break the tie.
In the second half, MCLA would score the game winning tally when Tietgens broke free on the right wing. She sent a cross to a streaking Borbolla across the net and she easily beat a defenseless Pinsonneault giving the Trailblazers the lead. Senior Gaby Fernandez would put the game out of reach as she recorded her first goal of the season with under 15 minutes to play. Freshman Brianna Bressett (Adams, MA) would get credit for the assist.
The physical contest would see the Redhawks outshoot the Trailblazers 26-8 and hold a 7-4 advantage in corners. MCLA sophomore keeper Jen Wehner earned her ninth win of the season recording 16 saves on the day. Pinsonneault would get credit for 4 saves on the afternoon.
MCLA will return to conference play on Friday night when the travel to Fitchburg. RPI will host Clarkson this weekend.