Lexington, Ky. – The Transylvania field hockey team played at home for the first time in 22 months on Wednesday evening, battling the Wittenberg University Tigers into the late stages of the night before falling, 2-1 at Pat Deacon Stadium.
Having had the majority of its 2020 season squeezed out by the pandemic, the Pioneers finally had the chance to play at home in front of Pioneer faithful for the third match of its 2021 campaign.
Mirabel Noltemeyer scored the first goal of her collegiate career, giving Transylvania a moment to remember and the first dose of momentum, but the Tigers tied up the game before halftime and found the go-ahead goal midway through the fourth quarter to dash the hopes of home-opening win for the hometown Pioneers.
The Pioneers fell to 0-3 on the season after suffering their second straight defeat by a one-goal margin while the Tigers improved to 2-1 overall.
Noltemeyer struck early for a charging Pioneer side, whose connectivity and aggression was on display throughout the first quarter. Saward handled a penalty corner pass from Noltemeyer, broke through the middle to fire off a high-velocity shot which was tapped in by Noltemeyer with 8:46 left in the first quarter to provide the Pioneers with an early buffer.
The Pioneers outshot Wittenberg, 5-1 in the first quarter before the second quarter took a defensive tone. Wittenberg amassed two shots to one for the Pioneers. The Tigers evened up the score on a second-quarter ricochet in front of the goal, which was handled by the Tigers and sent in past Pioneer goalie Sidney Varney for a 1-1 score.
Opportunities were few and far between in the third quarter for the Pioneers and Tigers, making way for a high-stakes fourth quarter. With just over 12 minutes remaining in regulation, the Tigers fought their way into the shooting circle and took aim at Varney. The senior stopped the first shot, but Wittenberg secured the deflection and scored on the second try to take a 2-1 lead.
Transylvania continued to seek a tying goal as Noltemeyer went on a long run the other way and challenged the Tiger goalie with 6:30 to go, but her attacking effort was snuffed out. The Pioneers earned another penalty corner with 3:41 left in the fourth, but the Wittenberg defense stood firm against the Pioneers' best shot.
Varney finished the night with three saves. Noltemeyer and Kayla Bushman led Transylvania with two shots on goal apiece.
The Pioneers now look ahead to their next match on Saturday, September 11 at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. The Pioneers and Yellow Jackets are scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. start.
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