Drury grad sets records at MCLA

By Patrick Ronan, North Adams Transcript

NORTH ADAMS -- Seven games remained on the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts women's soccer schedule, and sophomore forward Jess Tietgens was only three goals and seven points short of her school's single-season scoring records.

It wasn't a matter of "if" Tietgens, a Drury High School graduate, was going to topple the prestigious marks -- 17 goals by Roberta Smith in 1987 and 39 points by Christine Bonatti in 1999.

The records were going to fall, but it simply was a matter of when and how?

Both of those questions were answered Thursday afternoon at Ron Shewcraft Field, as MCLA (9-3, 1-2) battled winless Bay Path College (0-7-2). With seven minutes and 27 seconds left in the game, Tietgens netted her third goal of the contest, breaking both records and capping a dominant 7-0 rout of the Wildcats.

It was a tremendous moment for the Stamford, Vt., native, who wasn't aware of her achievements until a few hours prior the game.

"I had no idea about it until today," Tietgens said. "That made me nervous, so coach (Deb Raber) talked to me at halftime, told me it's like any other game, and I shouldn't worry about the record."

Tietgens notched two assists in the first half, setting up Danielle Parenteau and Kaitlyn Dano's goals, but she couldn't sneak a strike of her own past Bay Path goalkeeper Samantha Gunseth.

MCLA led the Wildcats 3-0 at halftime, outshooting the Wildcats 19-0 (11-0

on-goal). With the game well in hand, in favor of the home team, Tietgens started making her move toward the goal record -- which, interestingly enough, was older then she is.

It's an outstanding feat for a sophomore who still had one-third of the season remaining. Knowing Tietgens had recently become aware of the records, coach Raber did her best to keep Tietgen's emotions in check and quell the growing pressure.

"I just didn't want her to push towards something, or anyone to jinx her. I wanted the focus to be on the team," Raber said. "With a goal-and-a-half (per game) average, she was going to get it. It's just a matter of time. I just wanted her to focus on the game."

Trailblazers senior captain Taylor Kenyon, whose goal put her team up 1-0 on Thursday, said the entire club was rooting for Tietgens. With three road matches on deck for MCLA, everyone on the 'Blazers' bench wanted the records to fall at home.

"I think people were looking to feed her the ball. Everyone just wanted her to do well," Kenyon said. "Jess is phenomenal. I'm glad she's on my team because she's hard to defend. Just for her to do this as a sophomore, thinking she has two more years, she's going to blow up."

Tietgens scored in the opening minutes of the second half, then added one in the 69th minute. Her second score was followed by an announcement over the public-address system, letting fans know Tietgens had just tied the records.

The pressure started to build for Tietgens, as the crowd noise escalated to higher levels every time the forward touched the ball. During the 77th and 79th minutes, her scoring attempts were thwarted by a resilient Gunseth.

Gunseth finished with 25 saves, a remarkable performance against the swarming 'Blazer offense. She was the stubborn force keeping Tietgens from MCLA immortality.

"Their goalie is really, really good. She had a great game." Tietgens said. "I definitely felt the pressure at the end. I wanted to get (the record) here at home."

During the 83rd minute, Tietgen's big moment finally came. She intercepted Bay Path's free kick, charged the box and delivered the record-breaker. MCLA's single-season record now stands at 18 goals and 41 points, with six games remaining.

In a classy move, Raber pulled Tietgens from the game immediately following her hat-trick clincher. The substitution prompted a rousing ovation from teammates and fans.

"The monkey is off her back," Raber said with a smile. "I'm glad she could do it at home with her parents and friends here. It's a big deal. Twenty-one years that goal record stood."

Tietgens was the shining star Thursday, but the rest of her team was dominant, as well. The Trailblazers outshot Bay Path 42-1, and it was MCLA's most lopsided victory of the season.

Raber could sympathize with the Wildcats because her 'Blazers were in the same rut a couple years ago. The MCLA women's soccer program has made tremendous strides, and that was evident Thursday during a momentous day on the pitch.

"It's wonderful to see this team come so far," Raber said. "We definitely were in (Bay Path's) position before. I feel for them, but they battled hard. Their keeper was outstanding. There could've been a heck of a lot more scoring, and Jess could've had (the record) a lot sooner in the game."

Tietgens gets a chance at tacking on to her newly-acquired accomplishment when MCLA travels to Cape Cod on Saturday to battle Mass. Maritime.