Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 4, Transylvania 1

Junior forward Ashley Smiley (Delaware/Hayes) scored one goal and set up a pair of insurance scores to help Ohio Wesleyan to a non-conference win over Transylvania in the season opener for both teams on Friday at the Jay Martin Soccer Complex.

Ohio Wesleyan had the first good scoring chance of the game when junior defender Cami Lykins (Westerville/North) wound up for a shot from the right side, but Pioneer keeper Morgan Patton made the save in the 12th minute.

Just over a minute later, Transylvania's Brooke Puterbaugh freed Meron Roach on a breakaway, but sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Floyd (Wilton, Conn.) leaped to make the save and preserve the scoreless tie.

Two minutes after that, freshman defender Ellie Redman (Dublin/Coffman) sent a through ball that turned into a Smiley breakaway, and Smiley's shot found the left side of the net to put the Bishops ahead.

Sophomore forward Julia Dickman (Marysville) was part of a pair of chances later in the half, first hitting the post on a shot after Smiley picked up a loose ball in the Pioneer defensive end, then laying the ball off in transition to sophomore midfielder Brooklynn Buck (Kings Mills/Kings), whose shot was stopped by Patton.

Junior midfielder Caroline Elliott (Bexley) increased the Bishop lead to 2-0 in the 68th minute, fielding a pass from freshman forward Riley Welsheimer (Westerville/North) and tucking a shot inside the right post.

The Pioneers rallied in the closing minutes of regulation time, with Roach chasing down a back pass intended for Floyd and launching a shot from long range that got over the Bishop netminder and into the goal to bring the visitors within 2-1 with 3:09 left in regulation time.

Transylvania's Morgan Fowler then had a look at the tying goal, but Floyd made the stop with 1:48 remaining.

Smiley set up sophomore midfielder Hannah Baughman (Louisville) on an insurance goal with 1:12 to play, then crossed the ball into the box for Dickman to tip in with :25 left for the 4-1 final.

Ohio Wesleyan outshot Transylvania, 21-10.  Floyd finished with 4 saves.  Patton recorded 6 saves for the Pioneers.

Box Score