Top seed Transy falls to Earlham in shootout
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Top seeded Transylvania was unable to find the nets Tuesday and fell in a shootout to Earlham in Heartland Conference Tournament Semifinal action at Thomas Field.
The Pioneers (11-4-4) were looking for a third successive HCAC tournament championship and with it the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III tourney. It was the first tournament loss for Transy since Rose-Hulman took a 1-0 decision in the 2008 championship contest.
Since joining the league in 2002, Transy has never failed to advance to the HCAC championship round. They have won eight of those nine matchups, with the only loss coming to Anderson in 2002, also in a shootout.
Neither team could score through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods, setting the stage for the shootout.
The Pioneers controlled the pace of the game for most of the afternoon, taking a 7-1 advantage in shots in the first half and a 5-2 edge in the second. Transy finished the contest with 14 shots to just three for the Quakers, including a 5-2 edge in attempts on goal.
Peter Mikhail had thre shots for Transy while Kyle Smith, Daniel Mudd, Robbie Gorham, and Stu Hampson added two apiece.
Transy keeper Taylor Nossokoff was credited with two saves while Earlham's Chris Marshall had four. Both also played in the shootout.
Earlham converted its first penalty kick on an effort by Corey Campbell, but the Pioneers couldn't answer as Mikhail's try was blocked. Earlham's Irhad Strika and Transy's Eric Forschauer matched goals in the second round. In the third round, Ameer Yusuf of Earlham and Transy's Hampson both converted.
Earlham clinched the match when Michael Carroll scored to lead off the fourth round while Conner Clark misfired.
The Quakers, the No. 4 seeds in the tournament, will travel to the winner of the Rose-Hulman-Mt. St. Joseph match for the HCAC finals Saturday at 1 p.m.
