Box Score Lexington, Ky. – Behind a trio of goals on Saturday afternoon, the Transylvania men's soccer team collected its first conference victory of the season in a 3-1 victory over the Defiance College Yellow Jackets at Pat Deacon Stadium.
The Pioneers improved to 1-1-1 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play as they enjoyed the offensive explosion they came close to reaching on Wednesday night at home in a 1-1 draw against previous opponent Mount St. Joseph.
On Saturday, the ball was flowing for the Pios and goals came on a timely basis.
In the first half hour of the game, the Yellow Jackets put the Pioneers on hold, allowing waves of midfield runs and open play for Transylvania. But with every finishing opportunity, the Yellow Jackets compressed the box and the Pioneers continued to wait for the perfect opening.
The Pioneers mustered a collection of opportunities in the first half off of continual right side crossers, but the finishing headers remained elusive.
Meanwhile, Transylvania was just as adept, if not more so than the Yellow Jackets on the defensive end. Defiance's offensive punches came briefly and each time, the Pioneers extinguished them in one fell swoop before defenders arrived, pinballing the ball forward.
After most of a first half in which the Pioneers drew close to a reward multiple times, a goal came in the 44th minute as Tyler Joy-Brandon delivered a scorcher from the right corner of the box that was too hot for Defiance goalkeeper Clay Musgrave to handle. Brandon's kick glanced off the keeper's hands and into the net for a 1-0 Pioneers lead just before the halftime break.
The high-octane flow continued in the second half for the Pioneers who picked up from where they left off at the end of the first half. In the 55th minute, Caswell Fuller sent a long ball ahead to Alex Shkraba, who shimmied left past the goalkeeper, delivering an unabated kick into the goal for a 2-0 lead.
Additional goals lay in waiting for the Pioneers but were left on the table; a direct kick in the 60th minute by junior Riley Calhoon flew just high of the crossbar, and additional crosses provided scares for the Defiance back line.
The final blow came in the 74th minute for the Pioneers; attacking from the right side, Wilson Martin sent a pass into the center of the box, where Josh Morgan had space to finish with the left boot to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead.
Defiance snuck in a late goal with under 10 minutes to go, but the Pioneers maintained fluid ball movement to put the game to rest.
The Pioneers improved remained unbeaten at home with a 4-0-2 overall record at Pat Deacon Stadium.
Transylvania continues its homestand as it hosts the Hanover College Panthers at Pat Deacon Stadium on Wednesday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
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