MCLA drops heartbreaker to Keene in double overtime 2-1

Keene, NH- The fifth seeded MCLA Trailblazers fell to Keene State 2-1 in double overtime in the semifinals of the ECAC New England tournament.  The Owls' Nora Mahoney tallied with just 16 seconds left in the overtime period to net the game winner.  The loss ends MCLA's season at 11-3-6 and snaps the program record fifteen game unbeaten streak.  Top seeded Keene advances to defend its ECAC championship against the winner of UMass-Boston and Endicott.

Both teams had tremendous opportunities in the overtime periods to score the clincher.  The Trailblazers' Jess Tietgens shot just wide in the first overtime as she outran three Keene defenders to a loose ball.  She then hit the post in the second overtime after a similar run to a loose ball. 

Keene had its best opportunity to score in the overtime with about a minute to go in the second session.  Off a corner kick, the Owls lofted a ball into the box that was headed by Melissa Dempsey.  The header beat MCLA keeper Jen Wehner, but Trailblazer defender Lauren Ford cleared the ball just off the goal line.  The rebound off the clear was on net, but Wehner made a great save.

After a scoreless first half, Tietgens scored off an Ashlee Scofield corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the half.  Keene would answer with the equalizer in the 55th minute to knot the score.  Erin Griffin scored of a Mahoney cross to tie the game at 1-1.

Keene would hold a decisive edge in shots 25-11, especially after halftime (19-8), while the Owls also held a 8-2 edge in corners. 

Wehner would finish with nine saves while Keene's Megan Dempsey collected two.

Tietgens' goal marked her 199th career point in a Trailblazers uniform as she ends her brilliant career.  She leaves MCLA as its all time leading scorer as well as leading many other categories. 

Playing in their final game today were fellow seniors Danielle Parenteau, Samantha Miller, Elizabeth Ryan, and Shannon Maloney.

The seniors end their careers with a record of 47-21-10, while adding a MASCAC regular season championship and a pair of ECAC semifinal appearances.