Sounds like a collapsed line between the clutch master cylinder (at the pedal) and the slave cylinder (on the transmission). Especially if the thing still works, but just requires herculean effort to disengage. The line is rubber, and a common failure mode if it disintegrates it for little flaps of material to block the line, typically when pressure is going only in one direction -- i.e., when you're pressing the pedal, or releasing it.
You could have a shredded seal or piece of crud partially blocking one of the passages in either the master or slave cylinder. My money is on the master (on the clutch pedal end, poking through the firewall). That's typically what I see fail first out of the two on any car. Although anything's possible depending on if/how your mechanic fucked up.
Replacing the master cylinder as a DIY job is not too tough. Doing the slave cylinder or line is a little more involved, with working in cramped spaces (usually -- I don't know what it looks like on a Tribute/Escape offhand). Most modern vehicles have the slave cylinder on the outside of the transmission, at least.