NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Fourth seeded Bridgewater State University and number one seed MCLA played to a scoreless tie on Wednesday afternoon, but a perfect run through penalty kicks advanced the visiting Bears to the championship game of the 2010 MASCAC Women's Soccer Tournament.
Bridgewater (6-9-2) converted all four penalty kick attempts to win the shootout, 4-2. The Bears will compete in the MASCAC women's soccer title game for the sixth time in program history and the second time in the last three years. Bridgewater has taken part in all 11 MASCAC tournaments since the inaugural year of 2000.
Both teams displayed a stingy defense throughout the game and overtime. Bridgewater held a decisive 17-10 shot advantage, but both sides saw few scoring opportunities.
MCLA began the shootout with junior Kaitlyn Dano (Schoharie, N.Y.) who hit the left post. Bridgewater sent up senior Aly Johnson (Stamford, Conn.) who buried the shot for an early advantage. Bridgewater senior keeper Kayla Grover (Haverhill, Mass.) would stop MCLA's Lauren Ford (Vorheesville, N.Y.) before freshman Katie Nasuti (Millbury, Mass.) gave Bridgewater a commanding 2-0 advantage.
The Trailblazers would sandwich a pair of conversions from Lindsay Borbolla (Greenwich, N.Y.) and MASCAC Player of the Year Jess Tietgens (Stamford, Vt.) around Bridgewater's third consecutive tally from senior Amanda Vigneault (Ludlow, Mass.). That set the stage for senior Christina Amaral (Chicopee, MA) who would send the Bears into the MASCAC finals with a perfectly placed shot into the upper right corner of the net.
Bridgewater would control much of the first half action, with MCLA ratcheting up the pressure towards the end of regulation. Bears' senior forward Kylie Beaton (Epsom, N.H.) had an opportunity in the 77th minute but MCLA keeper Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, NY) made a sprawling save.
Tietgens had an opportunity from close range with under a minute in the first overtime, but her shot sailed over the crossbar.
Both teams received outstanding performances from their backs as Johnson, the Bears' sweeper, kept the MCLA offense at bay, while Dano did the same for the Trailblazers.
Wehner would finish the day with six saves, while her counterpart Grover would collect four.
Last Saturday in Bridgewater, the Bears and the Trailblazers battled to a 1-1 double overtime draw in the regular season finale which gave MCLA the number one seed.
Bridgewater will travel to either second seeded Worcester State or number three seed Westfield State on Saturday for the tournament championship game. Worcester and Westfield will play in the other semifinal match later on this evening out in Worcester.