Box Score Danvillle, Ky. – In a duel of two Central Kentucky rivals, the Centre College Colonels handed the Transylvania men's soccer team its first loss of the season with a 2-1 result on Tuesday night at Hillside Field.
The loss moved Transylvania's record to 5-1-2 to conclude a strong month of September and the nonconference portion of the schedule for the Pioneers.
In a matchup befitting of the two longtime rivals, the game featured its fair share of see-saw moments and timely answers by both sides.
The hometown Colonels got on the scoreboard first and did so early as Brad Nordin struck the net in the 7th minute for a 1-0 cushion that lasted for the rest of the half.
The game shifted into a defensive tone for most of the final half hour of the half; there were few opportunities for the Pios as Jacob Gantt sent a shot high above the crossbar in the 11th minute, and a shot from Caswell Fuller forced Centre goalkeeper Bailey Spade to extend for a save.
The action reheated in the second half as Transylvania tried to push the tempo on the road. After prying for 12 minutes, the freshman with the hot foot as of late, Alex Skhraba came through with the equalizer to score his third straight goal in as many games to tie the game at 1-1.
But Transylvania's goal was short-lived, as the Colonels scored just over three minutes later to go ahead again by a goal to take a 2-1 lead.
The Pioneers continued to press and gathered their fair share of possession over the final 30 minutes, but could not discover the finishing touch. Transylvania continued challenging Centre's Spade, but a series of corners went by the wayside and the potential tying goal remained elusive.
Despite the Tuesday night defeat, the Pioneers close the book on a very successful September with the nonconference portion in the books. Now, the Pioneers look ahead to the start of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play with a Saturday road game against Rose-Hulman. The Pioneers will face the Fightin' Engineers in Terre Haute at 3:30 p.m. as they try to match a strong nonconference start with a successful run through the HCAC manifest.
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