Box Score Danville, Ky. – A hat-trick from sophomore attack Nick Bailey and a quick start from the Transylvania men's lacrosse team lifted the Pioneers to an 11-6 win over the Centre College Colonels Thursday evening at South Campus Field.
With the convincing road victory, Transylvania grew its season-high winning streak to five games in beating its archrival Centre for the second year straight.
Playing on the same site one day after their Wednesday meeting was postponed by a fierce pattern of storms, the Pioneers and Colonels were able to begin the Thursday make-up contest right on time. Once the clock began ticking, Transylvania looked no worse for the wear, striking first, second, and third on the night.
Senior attack Zach Roby led off the scoring on Thursday, as the team leader in goals delivered the first score at the 8:27 mark of the first quarter. Senior midfielder Zack Riggs caught the bug as he scored on the ensuing possession to hand the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. Soon thereafter, junior midfielder Josh Mesmer took a setup from freshman midfielder Trenton Sneed and found the back of the net as Transylvania claimed a 3-0 advantage.
Transylvania and Centre traded goals the rest of the quarter as the first 15 minutes saw the Pios grab a 5-2 lead.
While the Pioneers cooled off in the second quarter, they seized full control of the third quarter, outscoring Centre 5-0 to head into the final period with a 10-3 lead. Bailey crafted his hat-trick patiently but rapidly, as he scored his first two goals of the night in the final 2:17 of the third quarter, and notched his third goal early in the fourth quarter off an assist from senior attack Clark Watts.
The defense was superb this evening for the Pioneers, who kept Centre's scoring in check for much of the night, until the final 7:34 when the home team tacked on three late goals for the 11-6 final. Transylvania forced Centre into seven failed clears and 23 turnovers.
Senior goalkeeper Cooper Fogle, who recently picked up his 400th career save, had eight saves in his sixth win of the season for Transy.
Watts, Roby, and Mesmer each tallied two goals apiece, while Watts also tallied a game-high six ground balls.
The Pioneers improved to 6-3 on the year, and 4-1 on the road. Transylvania now has five games remaining in its regular season slate, all against Ohio River Men's Lacrosse Conference foes.
Transylvania returns to the field next Wednesday, April 12 as it hosts the Mount St. Joseph Lions at Pat Deacon Stadium in Lexington. Face-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
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