BENNINGTON, Vt. -- The MCLA women's tennis team swept the doubles matches as they cruised past the Lyndon State Hornets in the NAC opener, 7-2, Wednesday at the Bennington Tennis Center.

 

MCLA (2-2, 1-0) rolled through the doubles matches as Emily Deaso and Mariza Sfakianaki won 8-3 in the top spot.  Freshmen Brianna Higgins and Sarah Hachadourian also took a point in the second doubles slot also by a 8-3 margin. The final point was claimed by Sam Gawron and Anna Despart who cruised to an 8-0 victory.

 

In singles, all of the matches were played to pro style sets to eight. Lyndon took the top singles point as Nichole Jones defeated Sfakianaki in a nail biter 8-7. Deaso responded and earn her first point claiming an 8-1 in the second slot.

 

Alexa Richard earned the last point for Lyndon out of the third spot with an 8-2 win over Despart, but MCLA claimed the final three matches all by identical 8-0 scores.

 

The Trailblazers continue NAC play on Saturday when they travel to Green Mountain.

 

MEN’S SOCCER

COBLESKILL, N.Y. -- MCLA senior Edward Boateng netted his first career hat trick in a 5-1 victory over the Cobleskill men's soccer team Wednesday.

 

Boateng started fast netting his first goal at the 13:23 mark off a Nolan Burke cross. Just four minutes later he would tally again off another Burke cross and it was quickly 2-0, MCLA (3-3). The Trailblazers continued the offensive barrage in the 21st minute when Dylan Pereira would connect off an Anthony Basile throw in for a 3-0 lead.

 

MCLA took that lead into halftime after outshootiing the Tigers, 16-5, in the opening 45 minutes.

 

The Trailblazers salted away the game when Jesse Moore scored in 48th minute putting the game out of reach. The goal was Moore's fourth of the season.

 

Cobleskill (2-3) got on the board in the 60th minute but Boateng completed the hat trick in the 79th minute with a blast from 20 yards out to complete the scoring.

 

Kamron Anderson earned the win stopping five shots in net for MCLA.

 

The Trailblazers will open MASCAC play on Saturday when they travel to Bridgewater State.

 

WOMEN’S SOCCER

CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton women's soccer team picked up its first win of the season on Wednesday afternoon, defeating MCLA, 1-0.

 

A 78th minute goal by Eva Clark made all the difference in the contest, as it stood up as the game's only goal. Jessica Binkowski made two saves in her second shutout of the season.

 

MCLA's Megan Richardson made nine saves in goal, while Natalie Caney had both shots on goal for the Trailblazers (1-2-1).

 

Castleton (1-3-2) had the best look of the opening frame, as Izzy Hutnak fielded a pass from Clark and took it in on goal. She let go a shot, but a diving save by Richardson kept the contest scoreless into the halftime break.

 

Just 20 seconds in the second half, Kiley Baran sprang Marissa Benson on the second good look for the Spartans. Benson beat the last MCLA defender, but Richardson once again came up with a big diving save to preserve the 0-0 score.

 

In the 59th minute, Caney had the best look of the game for the Trailblazers, as she pushed past the last line of Spartan defense and pulled the trigger on a left-footed shot, but it curved just outside the right post out of harm's way.

 

With time winding down in the contest, Clark and the Spartans moved the ball deep into MCLA territory. The senior put on the brakes just outside the box to get the ball to her left foot before unleashing a turnaround shot that found the top-left corner of the net to give Castleton the first lead of the game—a tally that would hold until the final whistle.

 

Castleton outshot MCLA 19-5 overall, and 10-2 on goal. The Spartans held a slight, 3-2 edge in corner kicks, and recorded eight fouls to MCLA's five.