Lopez goal leads Men’s Soccer to 1-0 win over Elms
Chicopee, MA- MCLA sophomore Marcos Lopez (Albany, NY) broke a scoreless tie in the 74th minute to lead the Trailblazers to a 1-0 nonconference victory over Elms College this evening. With the win, MCLA improves to 3-2 while Elms falls to 1-4.
After a weather delay that lasted for well over an hour, both teams were finally able to take to a rain-soaked Leary Field on the campus of Elms College for what proved to be a tightly contested match.
While MCLA carried play early, it was Elms that had the first best scoring opportunity when sophomore Jimmy Maznicki (Ellington, CT) forced Trailblazer senior keeper Sam Edge (Williamstown, MA) to make a leaping save of a straight on free kick from 25 yards out in the 18th minute.
MCLA's best chance of the first half looked very similar. Elms senior keeper Colin Liedke (Newington, CT) was forced to make a leaping save of his own in the 24th minute when Trailblazer senior Wesley Call (Ashby, MA) let a shot fly from nearly 30 yards out.
While most of the play in the first twenty minutes of the second period took place in the MCLA defensive half, neither team was able to put a shot on net. Finally, in the 65th minute, Trailblazer sophomore Cola Bean (Jamaica Plain, MA) ripped a right-footed shot from just outside the box, but it was straight at the Elms keeper.
In the 74th minute Wesley Call would connect on a 35-yard pass from just over midfield near the left sideline to sophomore Marcos Lopez (Albany, NY) sprinting down the middle toward goal. Lopez took the pass in stride with his first touch putting him past his defender leaving him all alone with the keeper who he put it past for the game winner. It was the 2nd goal for Lopez this season and the 2nd game winner.
MCLA outshot Elms 11-7 and had a slight edge in corners (3-2).
Elms goalkeeper Colin Liedke made 6 save in the losing effort and fell to 1-4.
Trailblazer keeper Sam Edge mad 5 saves in the shutout win improving to 2-2 on the season.
Elms will next host Johnson and Wales (RI) this Saturday at 12pm.
MCLA's next match will be Friday evening at 6pm at Shewcraft Field as they take on MASCAC rival Worcester State in both team's league opener.