Games 1, and 2

Game 1 - Transylvania Pioneers (0-0) (0-0) at Capital University (0-0) (0-0)
Friday September 1st, 2023 | 7:00 PM | Columbus, OH (Bernlohr Stadium)
Video | Live Stats

 

Game 2 - Transylvania Pioneers (0-0) (0-0) at Denison University (0-0) (0-0)
Sunday September 3rd, 2023 | 12:00 PM | Granville, OH (Deeds Field-Piper Stadium)
Video | Live Stats

 

Up Next: Vs Maryville | September 7th | Lexington, KY | Video | Live Stats

 

KICKING OFF 2023

Transy Men's Soccer is set to begin its 2023 season this weekend as the Pioneers are on the road for their first two games. First they travel up to Columbus, Ohio to take on Capital University at 7:00 PM. Transy then takes the short trip from Columbus to Denison University to face the Big Red
  
This is the first meeting between Transylvania and Capital since 2015. This is only the 4th time the Pioneers have taken on Capital since 2009. The record sits at 1-2 between the two schools as a young and revamped Transy team looks to take the advantage. 

 
LAST TIME OUT

The Pioneers ended their 2022 season after falling 1-2 to Hanover in the semifinals of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Pioneers finished last season going 9-6-4 under Ben Federici inaugural year as head coach immediately improving Transy's position after only winning 5 games the previous season.
 

This game would be the last for a veteran squad losing dominant midfielder Jak Birdsong who was one of the 5th year captains helping lead the team in overturn. Seniors Max Nusbacher and Mitchell Crispin took much of the offensive responsibilities with Crispin being the team's leading scorer and Nusbacher leading the team in assists. With a plethora of young talent and a team returning junior co-leading scorer, Henry Roetker, Transy is poised to shake up the HCAC only being selected third in their Pre-Season Poll.     

SCOUTING THE COMETS
 

Capital University went 5-10-2 last season losing to Otterbein in the Ohio Athletic Conference first round 0-5. The Comets return leading scorer Jack Kossoudji who put up 10 goals last season totaling 22 points. Defensively, Capital returns goalkeeper Connor Sexton who enters his Junior year after having 44 saves on the year.

 
SCOUTING THE BIG RED

Denison finished the 2022 season 10-5-3 overall and 5-2-1 in NCAC competition. The Big Red qualified for the NCAC tournament but were knocked out in the semi-finals by Ohio Wesleyan 3-0.
  
The NCAC voted the Big Red to finish in third in the NCAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Big Red lost leading goal scorer Ethan Miracle but return senior forward Rohan Tripathy and junior midfielder Cameron McIntosh.
Junior goalkeeper Tommy Prokos returns in net for DU and started in 17 of the Big Red's 18 games last season, stopping 63 shots and giving up 18 goals.
 

MEET YOUR COACHES

 Ben Federici enters his second year as head coach of the Pioneers. In his first season, Federici led the Pioneers to a 9-6-4 record to earn a spot in the HCAC Tournament. Transy beat Anderson University 3-1 in the opening round of the tournament before losing to Hanover College 1-2 in the HCAC Semi-finals.
  
Federici brought on a new face to the staff for the 2023 season. Former Eastern Kentucky standout Madison Lemery enters her first year as the Pioneers assistant coach. 
 "It was important to me to bring in someone with an offensive mindset that could help mentor and develop our younger attacking players," Federici said. "Madison is the best candidate for the job. She impressed everyone involved in our process with her knowledge and passion for the game. I am excited to add such a driven and competitive person to our staff."
 

Frank Speth enters his first season as interim head coach for Capital.

Brandon Bianco enters his fourth season as head coach for Denison.
 

ALL TIME VS CAPITAL AND DENISON

Transy is 1-2 all time vs Capital, winning the last meeting earning the 2-1.

Transy and Denison are meeting for the first time ever this Sunday.
 

NEXT UP: The Pioneers will start a brief homestay as they have their first home game of the 2023 season against Maryville College on September 7th, followed by Heidelberg University September 9th.

 

2023 HCAC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL

(#) Denotes First Place Votes

1.	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (7)	78
2.	Hanover College (2)	71
3.	Transylvania University (1)	70
4.	Anderson University	50
4.	Manchester University	50
­6.	Bluffton University	42
7.	Franklin College	28
8.	Defiance College	23
9.	Earlham College	21
10.	Mount St. Joseph University	17

Transylvania

Name	Class	Hometown	Position
Henry Roetker	JR	Cincinnati, Ohio	M
Eric Hicks	SO	Benton, Ky.	D
Dylan Barnes	SO	Elizabethtown, Ky.	M
Jeremy Mason	SR	Louisville, Ky.	M