Lexington, Ky. – Emilie Yates scored a golden goal four minutes into overtime to ignite a long-awaited season for the Transylvania women's soccer team in style with a 2-1 win over the Anderson University Ravens on Tuesday evening at Pat Deacon Stadium.
Having to wait six additional months to start a delayed fall 2020 season, the Pioneers made immediate shockwaves in their debut as Yates found the back of the net on an assist on a long-developing corner kick play via a well-placed assist from Meghan Curren for the game-ender.
The thrilling finish boosted the Pioneers to a 1-0 start to the 2020-21 campaign while their Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent Anderson dropped to 0-1 in the curtain-raiser for both teams.
Yates' game-winner concluded a laborious match for the Pioneers, who showed the superior aggression and ability to maintain possession consistently. While the Pioneers controlled the first-half possession, the Ravens minimized quality attacks in the first half hour of the evening before Transylvania finally broke loose.
Abby Baker ended the interminable wait of the soccer season by ushering in the scoring in the 32nd minute of play. The senior took aim from 25 yards out along the left side and blasted a kick that eluded the grasp of Anderson's goalkeeper to place the Pioneers in front with a 1-0 lead.
Transylvania's momentum was threatened in the final moments of the first half as the Ravens summoned an equalizer with a header on a close-range free kick for a 1-1 score.
The second half emerged as a stalemate as the Pioneers mined for scoring opportunities. Anderson outshot the Pioneers 4-2 in the second half but Transylvania's offense surged in the final 10 minutes of regulation as the Pioneers began to move the line up the pitch.
The Pioneers quickly went to work once overtime arrived, earning two corner kicks. The second proved to be the pivotal moment of the match as Emily Payne took the kick from the left corner and played the ball deep into the box. The lob was first headed away by the Anderson back line but the ball was never fully cleared, pinballing back and forth on multiple touches.
A Raven attempted one last header out of the box but the clearance was booted down by Curren, who dribbled forward and slid a pass to Yates for a left-footed kick past an outstretched Raven goalkeeper to achieve the thrilling win.
Transylvania's encore will come against the Manchester University Spartans, who visit the Pioneers on Saturday, March 6. Opening kick is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Pat Deacon Stadium.
For more on Transylvania women's soccer, follow @TransyWSoccer on Twitter
