TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Transylvania University men's soccer continued its unbeaten run through HCAC play Saturday afternoon, earning a 3-0 road victory over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology at Rose-Hulman Soccer Field. Behind two goals from senior
Cole Varela and another from
Gus Dickman, the Pioneers improved to 8-2-3 overall and 5-0-1 in conference play.
The victory marked Transylvania's first road win against Rose-Hulman since 2011, ending a 15-year drought in Terre Haute and adding another chapter to the program's history.
That 2011 victory featured a memorable performance from the late Tony Spero, who scored twice to propel the Pioneers past the Fightin' Engineers. Spero played a pivotal role in that historic win alongside Transylvania Hall of Famer Kyle Smith, who also found the back of the net. Fifteen years later, a new generation of Pioneers returned to Terre Haute and delivered another three-goal performance to honor the program's tradition of success.
Transylvania opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Varela converted a penalty kick at 16:16, giving the Pioneers an early 1-0 advantage. Rose-Hulman generated several opportunities throughout the opening half, but goalkeeper
Ethan Drew and the Pioneer defense held firm. Drew recorded three first-half saves, including stops on attempts from Chase Kedzior and Pace Morel, helping Transylvania carry its one-goal lead into halftime. The Pioneers continued to battle through a competitive second half before extending their advantage in the 72nd minute. Dickman connected with Varela at 71:16 for his second goal of the afternoon, pushing the Transylvania lead to 2-0.
Just over seven minutes later, Dickman added a goal of his own at 78:21 off an assist from
Tanner Robertson, securing the final 3-0 margin and completing a decisive second-half performance. Varela led the Pioneer attack with two goals on five shots, including three on target. Dickman finished with a goal and an assist, putting both of his shots on goal, while Robertson contributed an assist. Despite being outshot 12-9, Transylvania capitalized on its offensive opportunities, placing six of its nine attempts on goal. Rose-Hulman finished with five shots on target and held a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Drew played all 90 minutes in goal for the Pioneers, recording five saves to preserve the shutout. The Transylvania defense withstood consistent pressure from the Fightin' Engineers, securing its second consecutive clean sheet following Wednesday's 3-0 victory over Berea.
For the first time since 2011, the Pioneers left Terre Haute victorious, connecting another generation of Transylvania men's soccer to the players and moments that helped build the program's legacy.
Transylvania University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the HCAC. To keep up to date with all of Transylvania Athletics, check out our website at transysports.com and follow @TransySports on Instagram.
