LEXINGTON, Ky. – Maryville's crazy start to the 2023 season continued Thursday night in the first match of a three-game Kentucky swing.
The Scots tied Transylvania 2-2 to earn their first result of the young season. Both Maryville scores were the result of own goals, which only continues the wacky goings-on that have happened to the Scots in just the last week.
It began with allowing three penalty kicks in the opener at Webster last Friday, followed by a match at Fontbonne that saw the teams play to a 1-0 score through 80 minutes and then combine for three goals over the last 10.
In Thursday's match, Transylvania opened the scoring with a gift goal in the fourth minute but then Maryville evened the count just three minutes later.
Aidan McWilliams drew a foul barely outside the Transylvania penalty box.
Hyatt MacDonald grabbed the ball and made a quick restart, finding
Brooklyn Muccillo just to the left of goal.
Muccillo fired high and Transy goalkeeper Jackson Holt got a hand on the shot attempt, but it ricocheted off a Pioneer defender's chest and right across the line to knot the score at 1-1.
Not Once but Twice
Maryville took the lead in the 23rd minute.
Grayson Dugan rifled a through-ball to a streaking
Craig McIlwraith, who attempted to find
Aidan McWilliams on his left wing. But again, a Transy defender made a deflection that found its way into the net and the Scots were in front 2-1.
Transylvania tied the score in the 35th minute, and the teams played even from there.
"We had a very bad break early in the game and battled back really well," Maryville head coach
Pepe Fernandez said. "It was a game either team coudl have won, but I was really impressed with our team spirit and how we performed on the road today."
Shots were 9-9 and Maryville's
Mykal Manfred made five saves to Holt's four for the home side. Corner kicks favored the Pioneers 7-3, but they also committed 11 fouls to Maryville five.
Shots on goal for Maryville went to Muccillo,
Jace Burchfiel,
Collin Combs and
Andrew Moore.
Both teams are now 0-2-1.
Maryville plays this weekend in the 34th Annual Bob Allen Nissan Classic, hosted by Centre. The Scots take on Spalding (1-0-1) on Friday at 5:30 p.m., and then they meet the host Colonels (1-1-0) on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. LaGrange is the other team in the field, playing a reverse schedule from Maryville.
