SALEM, Mass. --  Mayele Malango and Nahuel Aligbay each recorded a goal and a pair of assists as Salem State used four second half scores to defeat MCLA, 4-0, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference match on Saturday afternoon.

 

A scoreless first half yielded minimal scoring chances as MCLA (5-10, 2-4) played conservative, keeping extra defenders back to help limit Salem State offensively.

 

The Vikings (9-5, 6-0) broke through in the 53rd minute as Nahuel Aligbay chipped a pass over the defense into the box, which allowed Grace Dos Santos to head the ball past keeper Kamron Anderson (four saves) for the game's first goal.

 

MCLA's best scoring opportunity came in the 60th minute as Romeo Gray broke free, but was stoned by keeper Chris Jimenez (four saves) who then made a second diving save on a rebound attempt by Oscar Castro.

 

MCLA finishes its regular season on Friday night against Bridgewater State.

 

Women's Soccer

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The visiting Salem State women's soccer team got a goal from Casey McFall in the 80th minute to upend the MCLA Trailblazers on senior day, 1-0, in MASCAC action.

 

Neither team generated much offense in the opening half. Salem (9-5-1, 4-2) held a 9-0 shot advantage after 45 minutes of action, however they couldn't get a ball past MCLA's Megan Richardson (Adams).  

 

The story didn't change for much of the second half, although each side had a few opportunities.  It wasn't until McFall's game winner that someone broke through. SSU was pressuring deep in the MCLA zone when they forced a Trailblazer turnover. The ball came right to McFall, who after a good one touch, drilled a shot into the left corner for her eighth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead for the Vikings.

 

MCLA (3-10, 2-4) got one shot off in the final minutes of play, however it was from long range and Salem's Rebecca Sabino notched the shutout.

 

Richardson stopped five shots for MCLA in absorbing the loss.

 

Prior to kickoff, MCLA honored their six seniors in Molly Gurner, Ally Ferrell, Sychiah Johnson, Brittany Whitford, Pittsfield's Aleah Sangiovanni, and Allison Davey.

 

The Trailblazers will host Nichols College on Monday night in their final regular season home match.

 

Volleyball

KEENE, N.H. -- MCLA traveled up to Keene State University this afternoon for a tri-match with the hosts and Rhode Island College.

 

The Trailblazers fell to the Owls 3-0 in the nightcap while dropping a 3-1 decision to the Anchorwomen in the opener.

 

In the opener against RIC, MCLA (8-17) dropped the first set 25-20 before claiming the second set with a 27-25 win.  RIC would take the final two sets 25-18 and 25-17 to close out the match.

 

MCLA was paced by Becket's Sara LaFreniere in the opener as she collected 10 kills. The Wahconah graduate had four kills in the nightcap.