Mequon, Wis. – The Transylvania field hockey team's aim for a semifinal berth in the Southern Athletic Association came up one goal short against the Sewanee Tigers in a season-ending 2-1 defeat in the SAA Quarterfinals on Friday afternoon at Tomasini Stadium.
 
The Pioneers exerted nonstop offensive pressure on the Tigers all afternoon, but the Tigers used a go-ahead goal midway through the third quarter to hold on against the Pioneers.
 
After Sewanee narrowly beat the Pioneers in their two regular season meetings this season, the third meet-up between the Tigers and the Pioneers displayed similar play as before between the two teams as they battled to face off against Centre in Saturday's semifinal match.
 
The Pioneers took off in the first quarter, earning the first corner of the match. The insert found the stick of Makenna Saward, resulting in a strong hit picked up by Sidney Adridge, as the shot eventually drifted wide.
 
The Pioneers maintained a vigorous offensive possession in the first quarter, securing several runs up the left sideline by Mirabel Noltemeyer, who delivered multiple hits inside of the Pioneer's offensive circle. The Tigers saw a brief gain in control late in the first quarter, earning two penalty corners in the last five minutes, as well as a penalty stroke within the last two minutes. Sewanee's MiMi Wilson was denied by Libby Bringard on the ensuing stroke, as the Pioneer freshman made a timely kick save to give the Pioneers a lift heading into the second quarter with the match still tied at 0-0.
 
Transylvania continued its offensive domination into the second quarter as the Pioneers delivered a great run and passing sequence up the field between Noltemeyer and Emily Long, resulting in four successive penalty corner attempts. The Tigers mounted a threatening comeback late in the quarter, with two unsuccessful shot attempts before securing the opening goal of the match with three minutes to go before the half. The Pioneer offense continued a vigilant assault up the field, earning two more penalty corners before going into the half, but Sewanee held on to maintain a one-goal lead at the break.
 
As the second half evolved, the Pioneers made a quick foray into the Tigers' defensive end after a shot by Sewanee was saved by Bringard transitioning into a quick change in possession. Noltemeyer advanced the ball upfield and worked her way along the left backline and found a seam in the Tiger goal, scoring to tie up the match at 1-1 midway through the third quarter.
 
The Tigers, however, quickly responded, putting up another goal just minutes later to recapture the lead at 2-1. Transylvania maintained offensive possession for the remainder of the quarter, as Catherine Harney put up another shot attempt on goal. The Pioneers secured seven additional penalty corner opportunities over the second half, but the Tigers' final line of defense continued to hold firm against Transy despite constant pressure.
 
Bringard accumulated three saves on the afternoon. Transylvania put up seventeen shot attempts versus Sewanee's eight, and racked up 15 penalty corners to the Tigers' three. Emily Long led Transy with three of Transylvania's seven shots on goal while Noltemeyer totaled three shots on the afternoon.
 
For more on Transylvania field hockey, follow @TransyFH on Twitter