Women's Soccer seeks deeper postseason run in 2018, opens Friday at Nichols
North Adams, MA- The MCLA Women's Soccer program will kick off their 2018 season this Friday on the road at Nichols. In fact, the Trailblazers will play five straight on the road to open play as they look to improve upon last season's record and advance in the MASCAC playoffs.
Led by 19th year head coach Deb Raber, the Trailblazers are hoping to take the next step in 2018. Last season, the Trailblazers struggled to a 3-13 overall mark, but two of those wins were in MASCAC play and thus qualified MCLA for the postseason. Raber's troops lost a heartbreaker to Salem State 2-1 in the quarterfinal round of the MASCAC playoffs.
Raber will return All Conference standout goalkeeper Megan Richardson, which is a great place to start. Richardson has been an All MASCAC selection every year on campus and led the league in saves. Once again, she will be relied on heavily for the Trailblazers as she saw a whopping 372 shots last season.
Richardson isn't the only veteran returning on the back line as Kayla Baker and Lauren Mangiardi return. Both provide stability in front of Richardson and should anchor the defense.
MCLA is in need of finding a consistent scoring threat up top. The Trailblazers struggled to put the ball in the net last season, but do return All Conference sophomore Caitlyn Maloney and fellow classmate Brooke Mangiardi. The duo will look to take the next step and help the Trailblazers improve upon last season's goal total of 12.
The Trailblazers will be tested out of the gate with the Bison before the road trip continues on September 4th at St. Joseph (CT) and then again at Sage on Friday the 7th. A non-league matchup at Castleton awaits on September 12th before the Trailblazers enter MASCAC play on September 15th at Worcester State.
MCLA finally opens up at Shewcraft field on Thursday, September 20th hosting Bay Path. That begins a four match homestand that also features defending MASCAC champion Westfield State (9/22), SVC (9/25), and concludes with Mass. Maritime (9/28).
Deb Raber's troops will then head to Cobleskill as they ring in October and then continue on to battle Framingham State on the 6th. The Trailblazers will host Northern Vermont-Johnson on the 9th before taking on Fitchburg State on the 12th at home. SUNY Poly comes to North Adams on the 16th prior to MCLA heading to Salem State for a rematch of the MASCAC quarterfinals on October 20th.
A road to trip to Rivier on October 24th begins the program's final week of the regular season which concludes with a senior day matchup against Bridgewater State on the 27th.