The 25th-ranked Thomas More College men’s soccer team defeated in-state rival Transylvania University 2-0 Thursday in a non-conference match at Pat Deacon Stadium in Lexington, completing a sweep after the Saints’ women’s team knocked off the Pioneers, 5-0.
With the win, the Saints’ men improve to 7-1-0 while the Pioneers fall to 2-2-4.
The Saints led 1-0 at halftime as sophomore forward Eli Nienaber (LaGrange, Ky./Bishop Brossart) scored off an assist from senior defender Danny Laird (Greenville, Ind./Floyd Central) at the 40:55 mark.
Thomas More added an insurance goal at the 58:58 mark when junior midfielder RJ Best (Lorton, Va./South County Secondary) scored off a cross from senior forward Austin Juniet (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands) for the final score of 2-0.
Freshman goalkeeper Jeff Paulin (Alexandria, Ky./Bishop Brossart) earned the shutout win as he played all 90 minutes and recorded six saves.
Thomas More outshot Transylvania,19-10, including 8-6 on-goal and won the battle of corner kicks, 4-1.
The Saints return to action on Saturday when they host Marietta College at 3 p.m. at BB&T Field in Crestview Hills.
In the women’s game, the 17th-ranked Saints posted their fifth shutout of the season in the 5-0 shutout.
The Saints remain unbeaten at 5-0-1 and with the loss, the Pioneers fall to 1-4-1.
Thomas More took a 1-0 lead at the 22:06 mark when senior forward Olivia Huber (Woodlawn, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) off an assist from midfielder defender Taylor Robinson (Alexander, Ky./Campbell County). The Saints increased the lead to 2-0 at halftime when junior midfielder Erika LaRosa (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) found the back of the net off a Huber assist at the 36:29 mark.
Senior midfielder Kait Owens (Cold Springs, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) gave the Saints a 3-0 advantage when she scored unassisted at the 47:22 mark. Sophomore forward Julia Flagge-Echols (Colerain, Ohio/Colerain) scored unassisted goals at the 62:19 mark and 88:41 mark for the final score of 5-0.
Junior goalkeeper Megan Barton (Florence, Ky./Villa Madonna) recorded her fifth shutout of the season as she had three saves in 90 minutes of action.
Thomas More outshot Transylvania, 22-3, including 17-3 on-goal and won the battle of corner kicks, 6-0.
The Saints return to action on Saturday when they host Ohio Northern University at 1 p.m. at BB&T Field in Crestview Hills.
From Thomas More Athletics