Box Score Alma, Mich. – The Transylvania men's soccer team got a steady dose of offense as head coach Matt Vogel picked up his 50th career coaching victory in a 3-1 victory over the Alma College Scots on Saturday afternoon at Scotland Yard.
After waging through two ties and two losses to start the 2018 season, the Pioneers found a long-awaited victory Saturday to move to 1-2-2 on the year as their manager picked up a landmark victory early in his fifth year at the helm of the Pioneers program.
Transylvania received an early lift from junior striker Charlie Wend in the seventh minute, who took a pass from fellow junior striker Alex Shkraba and delivered a shot on target for his second goal of the season to place the Pioneers ahead, 1-0.
The delivery galvanized the Pioneers offense, which continued to bring the heat against the Scots on the road. Wend and junior midfielder Caswell Fuller each created shots on target in the following five minutes as Transylvania continued challenging Alma goalie Garrison Mast.
The Pioneers cracked Alma's armor once more in the 29th minute as Fuller fired a beauty from 15 yards away that whizzed past Mast for a 2-0 Transylvania buffer. Transylvania nursed the two-goal lead to the halftime break as the offensive pressure seldom cooled off.
Transylvania found the net again 22 minutes into the second half when Fuller placed a perfect pass to senior striker Thomas Shellenberg for the third and final goal of the afternoon for a 3-0 lead, giving the Pioneers firm control of the match.
Alma pulled a goal back late in the contest when the Scots' Torsten Holland earned a penalty kick and scored in the 87th minute against junior goalkeeper Drew Grisham to douse the clean sheet bid. The Transylvania defense held firm for the final three minutes to secure the milestone for their head coach, a former All-American for the Transylvania men's soccer program.
Transylvania outshot Alma 24 to 11 and earned seven corner kicks to Alma's four. Shellenberg and Fuller each took three shots on goal as opportunities ensued all afternoon.
Transylvania continues its weekend schedule tomorrow as it visits the Adrian College Bulldogs in Adrian, Michigan for a 2:00 p.m. start.
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