Box Score Springfield, Ohio – The Transylvania men's soccer team opened up its fall 2021 season with a 2-2 draw against the Wittenberg University Tigers on Wednesday evening at Edwards-Maurer Field.
Jak Birdsong propelled the Pioneers in their fall 2021 season opener with both of Transylvania's goals, including a go-ahead score in the 63rd minute of the match to achieve a 2-1 advantage for the road team. But the senior's second goal was unable to serve as the game-winner as the Tigers struck back with a dramatic 89th minute goal to force overtime and preserve an eventual draw.
The season opener for both sides found the Pioneers and Tigers with a draw apiece to open their respective seasons.
Birdsong certified the scoreboard in the seventh minute of the night with his first score of the season, giving Transy a 1-0 lead. The Tigers leveled up the action in the 26th minute of the evening on a penalty kick goal to send the teams into halftime knotted at 1-1.
Searching for a go-ahead strike, the Pioneers received another gift from Birdsong, who slotted in a penalty kick goal of his own to put Transylvania ahead 2-1 with under a half hour to go in regulation.
Transylvania toiled but could not hold the line as Wittenberg found the equalizer with 90 seconds left in regulation, sending the game into two entertaining overtimes rife with game-winning opportunities for both sides. Two gallant headers from the Tigers went by the wayside as one attempt sailed high and another was corralled by Transy keeper Cade Terry; the freshman from Frankfort, Kentucky made his first career start on Wednesday, finishing the night with five saves.
With two minutes left in the opening overtime, a right side cross from Eddy Andrade glanced off the hands of the Wittenberg goalie and was nearly put away on a right side boot from another Pioneer, but the attempt missed just wide left of the post. A half-minute later, the Pioneers intercepted another ball on the Tigers' defensive third of the field and mounted a threatening 3-on-2 counterattack, but the blitz resulted in an offside, and Wittenberg held on to force a second overtime.
Terry made another clutch save in the 103rd minute as Wittenberg mounted a straightaway shot from close range. Henry Roetker nearly broke away to find the third goal of the night for the Pioneers in the 117th minute, but the Tiger keeper dove upon the accelerating ball to maintain the tie.
Transylvania continues a busy opening week with its home opener this Saturday, September 4 against the Otterbein University Cardinals at Pat Deacon Stadium in Lexington. The first of back-to-back matches kicks off Saturday at 2:00 p.m. on the Pioneers' home pitch.
For more on Transylvania men's soccer, follow @TransyMSoccer on Twitter
