Malburg scores twice, Trailblazers roll 4-0
North Adams, MA- MCLA first year Jacob Malburg (Amesbury, MA) scored twice in less than a minute in the latter stages of the second half to put an exclamation point on an impressive 4-0 nonconference victory over Lesley University this evening before a raucous crowd at Shewcraft Field.
With the result, MCLA improves to 2-2 while Lesley falls to 0-3.
Senior captain Wesley Call (Ashby, MA) opened the scoring in the 11th minute as he was able to track down a Conor Green (Bolton, MA) pass the from the defensive third and put it over the charging keeper for his first career goal.
Later in the 27th minute junior Gabe Dias (Shrewsbury, MA) would find a streaking Cola Bean (Jamaica Plain, MA) in stride as the sophomore blew by his defender and beat the keeper short side for his first goal of the season.
For the remainder of the first half and well into the second, MCLA thoroughly dominated play and possession creating several great scoring chances. But it was not until the 74th minute when they, and Jacob Malburg would break though and close the door on this one.
After a flurry of MCLA corners, senior Max Whalen opted to play the next one short to sophomore Avani Richardson (Amherst, MA) who took the space he was given and drilled a shot off of the Lynx goalkeeper. As the rebound popped up, Malburg headed it home for his first career goal to extend the Trailblazers lead to 3-0.
Less than a minute later first year Justice Daniels (Pittsfield, MA) would direct what seemed like a harmless midfield throw-in from classmate Thomas Hickey (Mechanicville, NY), to Malburg just outside the eighteen. Daniels would then make a hard diagonal sprint towards goal which seemed to confuse the Lesley defense and freeze the keeper. Malburg took advantage and ripped a shot from distance which found the lower right corner of the net, making it 4-0.
MCLA held a 22-5 shot advantage and a 17-5 margin in corners.
Lesley goalkeeper Josiah Williams made seven saves in the losing effort and fell to 0-3 on the season. MCLA's sophomore Ryan Taylor (Plattsburgh, NY) made 2 saves and earned his first win in as many starts. He combined with classmate Richard Schineis (Selden, NY) for the shutout.
Lesley's next match will be Tuesday afternoon as they head to Paxton to take on Anna Maria College. MCLA will also be on the road next Tuesday as they travel to Chicopee for a nonconference tilt with Elms College.