LEXINGTON, KY - Transylvania Men's Soccer won their semifinal game 2-0 against the Bluffton Beavers during the 2025 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Men's Soccer Tournament at Pat Deacon Stadium. Transylvania earned a bye as the number one seed coming into the tournament.   

 Earlier in the season, Transylvania won the only game between the two teams during the regular season 5-0 on senior day. Five different Pioneers scored against the Beavers on the day.

The Pioneers carried a focused defensive effort into Pat Deacon Stadium Wednesday against Bluffton during the first half holding the Beavers to zero goals. At the end of the first half, both teams were scoreless. Transylvania had 13 shots at the goal during the first half compared to Bluffton's three shots. Both Cole Varela and Dylan Barnes led the Pioneers during the first half with three shots apiece. However, after halftime the Pioneers brought their offensive effort with a few early goals in the second half. Ethan Gudorf scored the first goal for the Pioneers at the 56:43 minute mark in the second half with an assist from McKay Wheatley giving the Pioneers a 1-0 lead in the second half. A few minutes later at the 60:40 minute mark, Cole Varela scored the second goal for the Pioneers with an assist from Gus Dickman. Both teams went scoreless for rest of the game leading to a Transylvania victory.

Transylvania had 27 shots compared to Bluffton five shots. Gus Dickman led the Pioneers with five shots throughout the night. Transylvania had 12 shots on the goal compared to Bluffton three shots on the goal.

Transylvania returns to action on Saturday, November 8^th, hosting Hanover for the HCAC championship. The second seed Hanover beat the third seed Rose-Hulman 2-1 in the other semifinals game. The action kicks off at 7:00 p.m.

Transylvania University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the HCAC. To keep up to date with all of the Transylvania Athletics, check out our website at www. Transysports.com and follow @TransySports on Instagram.