OWENSBORO, Ky. — Early on in the 2026 season, resilience has been a key descriptor of the Trevecca Nazarene University women's soccer team. The Trojans have fallen behind in two of their first three matches, but the fight in Mateus Mello's club has shown through, and on Thursday night, they proved it again.
Trevecca (2-0-1) fell behind twice in their match with Kentucky Wesleyan University (0-4), but each time the Trojans clawed their way back level, and in the 84th minute, the Trojans broke through to take the lead on their way to a 3-2 win. The Trojans are off to their best start in four seasons - coincidentally also a 2-0-1 start back in 2022.
THE SERIES
Trevecca now holds a 19-4-2 all-time lead in the series, and in the last 11 years, the rivalry has been particularly lopsided. Trevecca is 16-1-1 in the last 18 meetings between the former Great Midwest Athletic Conference foes, and the win on Thursday ran their all-time record in Owensboro to 9-3-1.
THE MATCH
Kentucky Wesleyan broke on top early when they took advantage of a set piece. KWU took a corner kick short, and Marley Collins carried the ball down along the end line from the right wing. She got into the box and set a ball low into the middle that was deflected in by Emma Fields to put the Panthers up 1-0, but the lead was short-lived.
Trevecca built their first equalizer from the back. The Trojans were awarded a drop ball along the defensive left side, and after a quick switch of the ball to the right wing, where Evvy Hainline sent a pass forward to Anna Farrell. Farrell touched it right back to Hainline, who sent the ball over the top of the defense to Elsa Bengtsson who gathered and spun back past the defense before she ripped a blast inside the left post to knot things at 1-1.
As the half wore on, Mary Bauchou took center stage. The sophomore from Knoxville made four saves in the final 25 minutes of the opening stanza, and that kept things level headed into the break.
Collins put the Panthers back on top in the 66th minute as she took advantage of a play where the Trojans were unable to settle the ball and clear. KWU goalkeeper Abby Payne punted the ball into the middle of the pitch, and it bounced down and ricochetted off a half a dozen bodies - including several Trevecca defenders, before it settled into the possession of Collins, who worked her way in down the right side and tucked a shot inside the far post to put KWU back up 2-1.
Again, though, the lead did not last long.Shortly after the second half hydration break, Trevecca was awarded a goal kick and Bauchou sent the ball forward into the middle. The Trojans possessed the ball forward up the right side where Kayelee Maners sent a cross to Noelle Garcia. Garcia then lofted a high arcing shot from the left side that settled into the side netting as the 70th minute drew to a close, and the Trojans were again level, this time at 2-2.
As the match wound down, Manners took a pair of shots that were turned aside by Payne, and the Trojans kept the momentum into the final moments when Trevecca surged in front. Trevecca earned a trio of throw-ins along the right touch line, and the third one was sent into the middle by Bengtsson. The feed found Anny Mitra who went in all alone against Payne and put the ball off the bottom of the crossbar and in for the go ahead goal to put Trevecca on top 3-2.
Haylie Panter put one more shot on frame against Bauchou in the 87th minute, but there wasn't much on it, and Bauchou handled it easily. The Trojans kept the possession for much of the final three minutes and bled the clock down to take the victory, 3-2.
GOALKEEPERS:
Trevecca - Mary Bauchou (W, 1-0-1) - 90 Minutes Played, 2 GA, 6 SV
Kentucky Wesleyan - Caleigh Meeks - 45 Minutes Played, 1 GA, 1 SV
Abby Payne (L, 0-2) 45 Minutes Played, 2 GA, 2 SV
SCORING:
8:03 - KWU: Emma Fields (1, Marley Collins)
16:02 - TNU: Elsa Bengtsson (1, Unassisted)
65:28 - KWU: Marley Collins (1, Unassisted)
69:26 - TNU: Noelle Garcia (1, Kayelee Maners)
83:59 - TNU: Anny Mitra (1, Elsa Bengtsson)
UP NEXT
This weekend, Trevecca will continue their four-match road trip with their final pre-conference match of the season. The Trojans will head north to Crestview Hills, Kentucky to take on the Saints of Thomas More University (1-0-2) on Saturday, September 5, at 1 p.m.
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