Men’s Soccer Extend Win Streak to Five versus VTSU-Lyndon

LYNDON, VT.—The MCLA Men's Soccer team took to the road this afternoon for a matinee non-conference matchup with the Vermont State-Lyndon Hornets. Traizen Griffith recorded his first career hat trick and six others scored as the Trailblazers rolled to their fifth straight win by a score of 9-0.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
• Score: MCLA 9, VTSU-Lyndon 0
• Records: MCLA Trailblazers 5-3-0 (MASCAC 1-0-0) | VTSU-Lyndon Hornets 0-5-0 (NAC 0-0-0)
• Series History: MCLA leads the all-time series with VTSU-Lyndon with an undefeated 5-0-0 record. The Trailblazers took down the Hornets 12-0 in their last meeting at home on September 26, 2023. They also secured a win in their first-ever matchup by a score of 4-0 at home on October 15, 2008.

HIGHLIGHTS

• MCLA didn't take long to get on the scoreboard. Junior forward Avery Manzolini (New Lebanon, NY) kicked the scoring off with his second goal of the season in the game's 17^th minute. Sophomore midfielder Traizen Griffith (Enfield, CT) was credited with the assist on the goal, his second of the year.
• A little over three minutes later, Griffith scored his fourth goal of the season off a pass from senior midfielder Avani Richardson (Amherst, MA). Griffith would add two more goals in the 53^rd (assisted by Richardson) and in the 71^st (unassisted), bringing his season total to six.
• Senior midfielder Liam Gibney (Rensselaer, NY) capped the Trailblazers' first-half scoring when he advanced the score to 3-0 in the 37^th minute, picking up his first goal of the year with assists from freshman midfielder Kyle Almeida (Averill Park, NY) and sophomore forward Mateo Phillips (Pittsfield, MA).
• With fans barely having returned to their seats for the second half, senior forward David Kankam (Pittsfield, MA) extended MCLA's lead to 4-0 in the 47^th minute. Senior defender Conor Green (Bolton, MA) provided the assist with a cross into the middle that Kankam knocked home. The goal for Kankam and the assist for Green were each their first of the year.
• After Griffith moved the lead to 5-0 in the 53^rd minute, Almeida further extended the lead to 6-0 in the 57^th minute, finishing off a pass from Richardson. The goal was Almeida's second of the year, while the assist was Richardson's second of the game and Fifth of the season.
• Griffith finished his hat trick in the 71st minute, making the score 7-0 before freshman Edward Bonney (Pittsfield, MA) made it 8-0 with his first goal of the year.
• Senior forward Ethan Smith (Brookline, NH) scored what would be the Trailblazers' final tally of the game in the 88th minute. It was Smith's second goal of the year, and freshman midfielder Brandon Balcazar (Pittsfield, MA) was credited with his second assist.
• Trailblazers' keeper Ryan Taylor (Plattsburgh, NY) saw his record improve to 5-3-0 after stopping the only shot on goal he faced. Oliver LeLacheur (Medford, MA) also stopped the only shot he faced before giving way to Deni Rizvic (New Milford, MA) and Michael Harris (Adams, MA) for the combined shutout effort.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The win was the Trailblazers' fifth in a row, marking the first time that the Men's Soccer team has recorded a five-game winning streak since 1997.
• Griffith's hat trick was the first of the season for MCLA. Kankam last performed the feat against Keene State on October 17, 2023.

UP NEXT:

On Friday, MCLA will be back in action when they travel to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy for a MASCAC matchup with the Buccaneers at Clean Harbors Stadium. The teams will take the pitch for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

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