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Berkshire Eagle: "MCLA Men Want Goals"

The margin of error between a pretty good and an outstanding season can be pretty small in soccer. This year, the MCLA men are hoping to be on the positive side of that margin. The Trailblazers, picked to finish fifth in MASCAC, scored one or no goals in 11 of their 16 games and lost six games by one goal

Berkshire Eagle: "MCLA Men Want Goals"
September 2, 2011

MCLA men want goals

September 1, 2011

By Howard Herman, Berkshire Eagle Staff
NORTH ADAMS -- The margin of error between a pretty good and an outstanding season can be pretty small in soccer. This year, the MCLA men are hoping to be on the positive side of that margin.

The Trailblazers, picked to finish fifth in MASCAC, scored one or no goals in 11 of their 16 games and lost six games by one goal.

"I think the key is, we've got to score goals," MCLA coach Adam Hildabrand said. "It's OK if you give up one goal once in a while as long as you're scoring one more than the next guy. The guys know that. We've been focusing a little more on the [offensive] end."

The Trailblazers opened the 2010 season with back-to-back 1-0 wins and then scored only two goals in going 1-2-1.

"We try to control the defense. I can control our shape. I can control their work rate to a certain extent," said the fifth-year coach. "Sometimes, the one thing that's hard to control is putting that ball in the back of the net."

MCLA opens its season Friday against Skidmore in the first game of Plattsburgh State's Cardinal Classic at 5:30 p.m. The Trailblazers will play the hosts Saturday at 7:30.

The Trailblazers have some holes to fill in both the front and the back of the field. MCLA graduated leading scorer George Sullivan, who took five goals with his diploma. Senior Liroy Ozinci scored three goals and is the top returning scorer.

More will be expected offensively from senior forward Rick Massey of Cheshire. The former St. Joseph's standout did not put the ball in the net last year, but was limited to 10 games due to injuries and played in all three sections of the field.

Hildabrand also has a hole in the back where former Hoosac goalkeeper Adam Tarsa graduated. Tarsa played in 15 games, had a 1.16 goals-against average and four shutouts.

Junior Dillon Wager and sophomore Shawn Willis, each of whom played in 2 games last year, are battling it out for the starting job. Nobody's won the job yet, and the coach wouldn't mind someone taking the reins.

"The first weekend, and even up to the CIAO Classic, we're going to be feeling it out. I want to give both keepers a chance to show what they have, because they've both earned it," said Hildabrand. "We're going to figure it out on the fly."