Box Score LEXINGTON, Ky.—Two goals first half goals propelled the Transylvania University men's soccer team to a dominating victory over Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent Mount St. Joseph on Wednesday night, as the Pioneers took the match 3-0.
Transy controlled the game throughout, dominating possession, applying steady pressure to the Lions' defense and limiting any genuine scoring opportunities for Mount. The Pioneers put nine of 13 shots on target while limiting the Lions to just five shots on goal, including several weak attempts.
The strongest scoring chance for Mount came in the 24th minute with two challenges on goal from inside the penalty box, but Transylvania goalkeeper Cody Waltrip stopped both, including a tremendous diving save to his left to quell the threat.
The Pioneers had previously taken the lead at the 19:35 mark, with a goal from midfielder Riley Calhoon. Midfielder Blake Chidester led Calhoon with a spot-on pass from midfield, leaving him with one man to beat. Calhoon hesitated momentarily, cut back middle and drove the ball past the Lions' keeper in the bottom right corner to put Transy on top 1-0.
Less than five minutes later, it was Chidester who found the back of the net off a careless pass from a Mount St. Joseph defender left the keeper helpless. Chidester won the ball off the feet of the goalie and fired a shot into the back of the net to extend Transylvania's lead to 2-0.
Transy had several other good looks in the opening period, including a quality look from midfielder Josh Morgan . After a failed free kick from Mount, Transylvania pushed forward on a breakaway near midfield, where Chidester led Morgan up the right wing but Morgan narrowly missed a chance to push the lead further. One minute later, midfielder Jacob Gantt fired a hard shot from the top of the 18-yard box but a diving save from Mount's keeper kept the lead at 2-0, a margin the Pioneers would carry into the intermission.
In the second half, Transylvania controlled the ball for much of the period, holding Mount St. Joseph to one shot on goal in the frame, and continuing to press forward on offense. With 32 minutes to play in the half, Morgan took a long pass and beat the back line of the Lines and came inside the 18-yard box and left a ground cross to the left side for midfielder Kevin Carroll but it was just a hair too far and missed Carroll's foot by inches. Carroll threatened to score again 10 minutes later, this time firing a shot from almost 30 yards but a diving effort from the Lions' goalie deterred the effort.
Carroll would not go unrewarded for his efforts, however, as he broke into the scoring column at the 17:52 mark. A precise pass from midfielder matt Melzer found the Carroll in space and he took a shot from 15 yards on the right side and buried it in the bottom left corner to give the Pioneers a three-goal advantage.
Waltrip continued his strong play in the net for Transy, stopping all five Mount St. Joseph shots on goal.
Transylvania (6-3-6, 3-1-2 HCAC) returns to the pitch on Saturday in a home contest with Bluffton on Senior Day. The Pioneers will recognize three seniors: midfielder Nick Blackwell, defender Tate Spivey, and Waltrip.
