Three Transylvania University Pioneers are on a local preprofessional women’s soccer team debuting Wednesday at Georgetown College’s Toyota Stadium.
A member of the United Soccer League, the Lexington Sporting Club W League squad kicks off its first game ever at 7 p.m. against Kings Hammer. Team members Erin Heil, Audrey Rawls and Isabella White also play soccer for Transylvania.
“It’s so exciting to have our student-athletes participating in the USL W League,” said Holly Sheilley, vice president for athletics. “As we celebrate 50 years of Title IX, what a great exclamation point to the year.”
All three Transylvania players are from Lexington: Heil, a junior midfielder and defender; Rawls, a senior forward and midfielder; and White, a first-year forward.
“We are so proud to have Audrey, Erin and Isabella represented on the first-ever Lexington USL W League team,” said Transylvania co-coach Ashley Reinecke. “We are excited to watch them play this summer.”
Alan Kirkup, W League head coach for FSL, said he is pleased to have so many locals on the team for the inaugural season. “Providing a pathway for these players to continue their soccer journey is something that the club is glad to provide. I hope that this will excite our fan base. I look forward to getting the season started on Wednesday, May 10, and hope that fans come out to support their local team.”
The men’s Lexington SC professional squad began play earlier this year, taking advantage of Transylvania’s facilities for practices.
For the 10-match W League regular season, Lexington SC will also face Indy Eleven, Racing Louisville FC and St. Charles FC.
The league is described as “the nation’s premier preprofessional women’s platform, with 65 teams across 10 divisions during the league’s sophomore season. Its goal is to grow the women’s game and to ‘increase opportunity, gender equity and career development’ for female players while providing playing opportunities, and emphasize career development with ‘tools and resources to help prepare players for the transition to their post-playing careers.'”