Lexington, Ky. – The Transylvania women's soccer team put together a complete performance in achieving a 4-1 win over the Berea College Mountaineers on Wednesday evening at Pat Deacon Stadium.
Transylvania increased its unbeaten streak to four matches, moving to 5-2-1 overall on the season while Berea dropped to 2-5.
Emilie Yates had her second brace of the season in thunderous fashion, delivering back-to-back outbursts to open up the second half and hand the Pioneers a 3-0 stronghold on the evening. The senior scored twice in the first two minutes of the half to put the match out of reach for their regional Kentucky neighbors.
Against a cold and rainy night, Transylvania sharpened up its connectivity throughout the first half as the Pioneers repeatedly yielded the ball upfield. The Pioneers found the key first goal of the evening in the 17th minute when Brooke Puterbaugh played a perfect pass ahead to Abby Baker, who delivered the first goal from the top of the right corner of the box, handing the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
Carrying a 1-0 advantage into halftime, the Pioneers emerged from the locker room with a double dose of offense, charging straight up the field and unfurling a blitz on the Berea defense. Baker took aim at goal and the Mountaineer keeper was able to parry it away for an initial save, but Yates was on site to put away the deflection for a 2-0 Pioneer advantage in the 46th minute.
The Pioneers' momentum intensified as the home team went on the offensive again; Baker served up a pinpoint cross from the right side of the box and Yates finished off the goal barely a minute later to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead.
Berea cut into the Pioneer lead in the 60th minute with their lone goal of the night as Bailee Vanover slipped loose to score for the Mountaineers. But the Pioneers put the game on ice in the 79th minute as the Pioneer defense caused a rapid turn in possession and Allison O'Hara earned her first career goal as the sophomore confounded the defense with a superb 1 v 1 finish, delivering a top-shelf goal with the left boot.
Alyssa Montgomery made her career debut for the Pioneers, starting the second half in goal. Morgan Patton played the first 45 minutes and corralled three saves on the night. Transylvania outshot Berea, 19 to 9 on the night with a 12 to 4 shot on goal advantage.
With nonconference play complete, the Pioneers look ahead to the start of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play, beginning with a road fixture at the Anderson University Ravens next Wednesday, September 29. Gameplay is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in Anderson, Indiana.
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