LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Belhaven Blazers defeated hosts Transylvania 2-1 Monday afternoon to wrap up the Transylvania Invitational with a pair of victories over the Labor Day Weekend.
 
Lucas Talaveira-Befi scored a brace for Belhaven (2-0) and Ben Schaefer came up with six saves to secure the victory over the Pioneers (1-1-1) at Pat Deacon Stadium.
 
Schaefer was called into action early in the contest with a save in the eighth minute off of a corner kick by Transylvania and an ensuing shot from Riley Calhoon.
 
After some back-and-forth open play, Talaveira-Befi took a pass from Cillian Thompson and pulled Belhaven's first shot of the game at the 20-minute mark, beating Cody Waltrip to give the visitor's the early lead with his first of the year.
 
A few minutes later, Belhaven would have another opportunity toward the Transylvania goal, but Nicolas Cornejo's shot would sail high.
 
The hosts would have a few more efforts toward Schaefer's goal in the first half, but were unable to place the shots on frame, with an effort from Tate Spively going wide left and then a header off of a corner kick sailing over the bar.
 
Thompson had an opportunity late in the first half, with a free kick set up at the top of the box from 20 yards out. However, the senior was unable to get it over the six-man wall and back down, with his effort beating Waltrip but sailing over the crossbar by a foot.
 
Just two minutes into the second half, Transylvania had a corner kick opportunity that caught Schaefer out of position on the attempted punch out, but the Blazers defense was able to control the ball quickly without a Pioneers attempt on goal and quickly went the other way on a break down the right side. John Ledbetter would use the quick break to call Waltrip into action again but his shot from just outside the box missed high.
 
Minutes later, another break allowed for a Belhaven corner and Ledbetter calmly placed the ball into the box where Talaveira-Befi met it and beat Waltrip to double his goal tally and the Blazers lead.
 
Belhaven's Andrew West would pick up a red card in the 58th minute, along with Spivey for Transylvania for dissension.
 
With both teams reduced to ten men and the pace opened up, Belhaven's Somto Ngwudike would test Waltrip with a right-footed shot from 20 yards out, but the Pioneers' goalkeeper was able to make a diving effort to his left to keep the scoreline at 2-0.
 
Moments later, play would go the other way and Transylvania would have a pair of shots blocked by Blazers' defenders Phillip Nichols and Piercen Burchfield.
 
Play would immediately break the other way and Talaveira-Befi nearly added to his total twice with his first effort hitting off the cross bar and coming back into play. Seconds later, his next effort was pushed wide by Waltrip for a Blazers corner.
 
A few minutes later, Igor Barbosa would get a shot on frame, only to be denied by Waltrip.
 
In the 72nd minute, Transylvania would have a long free kick played into the box with multiple Pioneers closing in, however, Schaefer would punch it clear of danger.
 
A few minutes later, following another punch out on a cross by the Pioneers, Transylvania would receive a penalty after a Blazers foul in the box.
 
Nick Blackwell cut the deficit in half by sending Schaefer the wrong way and calmly placing the penalty into the bottom right corner.
 
With new life in the game, Transylvania would open up with more attacking options pushed forward and Kent Maidens would test Schaefer in the 83rd minute, but it would be calmly claimed by the Blazers keeper.
 
Blake Chidester would put a pair of shots on frame in the 86th and 87th minutes but Schaefer would dispatch his effort as well.
 
Following a break the other way where Tulio Glasner would place a shot wide right for Belhaven, Transylvania would come back and came close to tying up the contest with an effort from 18 yards that Schaefer was just able to flip over the bar for a corner.
 
After the corner in the 90th minute, an offside on the Pioneers would seal the game.
 
The Blazers will now have four days to prepare for Saturday night's matchup against Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. The match is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. ET start.