MCLA rallies to earn hard fought tie at Rensselaer, 2-2

Rensselaer, NY- Second half goals from senior Jess Tietgens and sophomore Brianna Bresett brought the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) women's soccer team back from a 2-0 deficit to tie Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 2-2, this evening in non-league action at East Campus Stadium. With the draw, the Engineers are now 4-7-2 overall, while the Trailblazers move to 9-2-3.  MCLA ran its unbeaten streak to nine games with the draw.

Down by two goals, just a minute into the second half, MCLA sophomore Chelsea Beauchemin (Adams, MA/Hoosac Valley) delivered a centering pass right on the foot of Tietgens (Stamford, VT/Drury), who re-directed a shot inside the left post to pull within 2-1.  The goals was her team leading 13th of the season and the 8th straight game in which she has found the back of the net.

Then, in the 70th minute, Bresett (Adams, MA/Hoosac Valley) lofted a shot from outside the 18 that sailed over the head of RPI freshman goalkeeper Deanna Amoia (Tappan, NY/Tappan Zee) and in the side netting.

The Engineers put together a number of scoring chances in the final minutes of regulation, including a 74th minute effort by freshman Rachel Tietzen (Kelowna, BC/Kelowna Secondary School) that was hit right at MCLA junior goalie Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, NY/Cooperstown). A follow up shot by fellow rookie Alex Shaw (Jamison, PA/Central Bucks HS East) from 10-yards out was blocked by a defender.

Sophomore Tessa McGee (Washington, DC/Maret School) put a shot on goal from the corner of the 18 in the 79th minute, but it was handled by Wehner, just under the crossbar.

The best scoring opportunity for either team in the two overtime periods came in the 94th minute on a shot by RPI freshman Sam Lamorte (Pawling, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes). Her try from just inside the penalty area was knocked away by the fingertips of Wehner, who got just enough of the attempt to direct it off the post and out of danger.

Rensselaer sophomore Shannon Maguire (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) opened the scoring in the 26th minute when she half-volleyed home a rebound off a shot by freshman Giana Aballe (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley Regional). Fellow rookie Sara Rothschild (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) sent a low cross into towards the penalty spot that Aballe one-timed off the crossbar. Maguire then steered the carom in from four yards out.

Tietzen notched her second goal in as many games to give the hosts a 2-0 lead in the 39th minute. Classmate Brooke Van Baush (Loganville, GA/Grayson) sent a through ball behind the MCLA defense for Tiezten to run onto and bury past the dive of Wehner.

The hosts finished with 21-11 edge in total shots, including a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal. Amoia (0-0-1) finished with four saves, while Wehner (8-1-3) ended up with seven at the other end of the pitch.

The Engineers are back in action this weekend, when they host area-rivals Union and Skidmore on Saturday (3pm) and Sunday (1pm), respectively. The Trailblazers visit Westfield State on Saturday (6pm).