LEXINGTON- The Transylvania Women's Soccer team (5-2-1) is back at Pat Deacon stadium teeing off Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC). The Pioneers are coming off a week long break after a home win against Fontbonne University, winning 3-2 to seal their out of conference play. The Bluffton Beavers (2-5-1) are coming into this game after a loss on the road to Heidelberg as they come into Lexington for their first conference match as well.

The First Half

In the first half the Pioneers came out under the effects of a long week break as some sluggish going through the motions attitude afflicted the team. During this start, the Pioneers were taken advantage of by a steady Beaver attack as Bluffton scored the first goal of the game in the 7th minute.

This goal would wake the Pioneers and shake them awake, only taking the first 10 minutes. The equalizer was scored in the 10th minute as Maddi Benjamin scored her first goal of the night off an Isabella White pass. This goal would settle the Transylvania team as the Pioneers would burst forward to leave Bluffton in an insurmountable deficit. Transy would score less than a minute later as Maddi Benjamin wanted to spread the wealth, assisting Audrey Rawls to put the Pios up. Transy would score in the 13th minute as Audrey Rawls would yet again be the aggressor scoring off the Lilia Steen assist. Isabella White wanted to get points in another category, aiming to crush the Beaver attack, scoring unassisted in the 17th minute making it 4-1. The half would end with another Pioneer goal as Lilian Steen assessed the Bluffton defense before delivering the pass to Ciana Araya for her first of the game, ending the half 5-1.  

The Second Half

In the second half the pace of play wouldn't change for the Pioneers as they would only stack it on Bluffton to set this game as the second highest scorer of the season. Isabella White would score again this game to earn her 2 after receiving the assist from Abbey Rowe. The Pioneers would attempt their first penalty kick of the season after Ciana Araya would be fouled inside the box, giving her the one on one with the goalie, connecting top shelf well out of reach from the Bluffton goalie, giving her 2 on the day. Rachel Green would be up next, scoring the 8th goal of the game in the 79th minute after Allison O'Hara would assist the senior. This game would end as it started, by the hand of junior Maddi Benjamin as she would score her second of the night, and assisted by Molly Robinson, earning her first assist of the season. 

After the game head coach Ashley Reinecke had this to say:

"A great feeling to get the first conference win, and even better that we did it at home. A shaky start, but I love the way our team responded with two back to back goals, followed by a lot of quality individual and team finishing."

Up next for the Pioneers is a road trip to Manchester University in Indiana, September 30th at 1PM as HCAC play continues. 

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