Coleby Andrade (file photo)
Posted: Sep 24, 2021
North Adams, MA- The MCLA men's soccer team jumped out to a 2-0 lead and then held off the hard charging Westfield State Owls to earn a 2-1 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletics Conference (MASCAC) win. The Trailblazers improve their overall mark to 2-4-1, however both their wins are in MASCAC play as they're now 2-0.
The Owls dip to 3-5 overall and are 0-2 in the conference.
Both teams had chances in the first half of play, but neither could crack the scoreboard. MCLA had a golden chance in the opening minutes of play, but their shot went wide. The Owls had a great chance of their own later in the half, but Scott Porter's shot hit the crossbar.
With just 3:18 remaining until halftime, MCLA finally broke through. Ethan Smith dribbled deep into the Westfield zone and crossed a ball that slipped past a pair of Owl defenders and caught the goalkeeper out of position. His pass found the foot of James Murchinson who tapped it home for a 1-0 lead. The goal was the first of the season for Murchinson.
After halftime, MCLA gave themselves a cushion. After pressuring in the Owl end, Gabe Dias took an Owl turnover and slipped a pass to a streaking Cola Bean. He would easily beat Owl keeper Drew Adams for his team best 3rd goal of the season and the Trailblazers led 2-0.
The Owls would not go quietly however as they clawed back. In the 87th minute, their persistance finally paid off. Jake Silvestre would collect a loose ball off the foot of Coleby Andrade and knock it home to slice the deficit to 2-1. It was Silvestre's second goal of the season.
Westfield kept up the pressure and mounted a couple of shots in the closing minutes, however MCLA's Sam Edge would keep them at bay to preserve the win.
Edge made six saves to earn his second win of the season.
Westfield's Adams stopped seven shots in defeat.
The Owls will take the weekend off, before returning to play on Tuesday, Sept. 28 with a non-conference game at the US Coast Guard Academy.
- story courtesy MCLA sports information