NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The 2014 CIAO Classic opened up on Saturday with MCLA hosting Curry College at Shewcraft Field. 

 

The Colonels' used a second half score from Ryan Madden to upend the Trailblazers 2-1.  With the win, Curry remains unbeaten at 3-0 while MCLA suffers its first defeat and falls to 2-1.

 

Madden headed home a cross in the 62nd minute off a corner kick.Curry's Nick Gilman sent a cross into the box that found Madden just in front of the net.  He headed the ball over the outstretched arms of Trailblazer keeper Matt Robinson for the deciding goal. 

 

Curry controlled play for much of the second half. After a well contested opening period, Curry began to assert themselves on the humid day.  It outshot MCLA 12-3 in the closing 45 minutes.

 

The opening half started swiftly as MCLA had a great chance right off the bat. Curry was whistled for a foul deep in their box just 46 seconds into the contest resulting in a Trailblazer penalty kick. Trailblazer Dylan Pereira was given the opportunity and blasted a shot towards the left corner, but Colonel keeper Dan Johnson stretched out and deflected the kick.

 

Curry rode that immediate momentum can capitalized in the ninth minute.  Dave Stapleton gathered the ball about 30 yards out and whistled a shot into the upper right corner beating MCLA's Matt Robinson for an early 1-0 lead. 

 

Each team had quality chances throughout the half and MCLA finally caught a break in the 32nd minute. After a Curry foul at midfield, MCLA's Tyler Russell blasted a free kick towards the Curry net. With pressure from the MCLA offense, a Curry defender attempted to clear the ball, however he knocked it into the net resulting in an own goal for the Trailblazers tying the game at one.

 

The opening half saw aggressive play which resulted in 19 shots and 15 corners between the two sides.

 

Curry outshot MCLA 24-10 in the contest while holding a 12-8 edge in corner kicks.

 

Robinson stopped seven shots in net for MCLA while his counterpart Johnson collected five saves.

 

Both teams are in action on Sunday as the CIAO continues with Curry battling Union (NY) at 2 p.m., and MCLA hosts Castleton at noon.​