Second Half Strike Helps Women's Soccer Earn a Draw

(Fort Wayne, IN)-- The Cleary Cougar women's soccer team went on the road to Fort Wayne to play the Indiana Tech Warriors having not lost in two games, and will return to Michigan having not lost in three games after the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw Wednesday evening.

The game was fairly open from the opening whistle, with both teams taking shots and forcing saves from the opposing team's goalkeeper.  Cleary would concede a corner kick in the 19th minute that would result in a goal for the Warriors.  Indiana Tech's initial shot was blocked, but the Warriors were the first to the ball, firing a second shot towards goal.  That shot was blocked, but it fell to the opposite side of the net, where only an Indiana Tech player was, easily scoring, and making it 1-0.  Evalyn Cole would have a chance at goal right after the restart, but her attempt would go high, and the Cougars still trailed 1-0 at the break.

The second half maintained the open pace of the first half, as each team would earn corner kicks that resulted in shots and saves from their respective goalkeepers.  The Cougars would keep the pressure building, as Morgan Vanos took a shot in the 61st minute that went wide.  After a corner kick was safely dealt with, Cleary would build the other way.  With the ball at Chelsea Waller's feet, she passed it up the middle to Evalyn Cole, who gave it right back to Waller.  Waller would take her chance from distance, and her shot would have enough pace and perfect placement to get over the leaping Warrior goalkeeper and find its way into the net, to tie the game at 1-1.  Indiana Tech would have a couple of chances after the restart, but Bella Marsh and the Cougar defense stood tall to give the team a chance.  Late in the game, Chelsea Waller had a shot saved, and Taylor Franco had a pair of shots late, but was unable to break through the Warrior defense, and the game ended with a 1-1 score.

Bella Marsh would make 9 saves in the game on 10 shots faced to earn the draw.  Chelsea Waller has now scored in back to back games, and has 5 goals on the season.  Indiana Tech outshot Cleary 17-11, with a 10-6 advantage on shots on target.  The two teams combined for 9 fouls in the game.

Cleary is now 5-7-3 overall, 1-4-3 in the WHAC, and is unbeated in three games.  The Cougars will look to extend that streak on Saturday, October 18, when they travel to Adrian to take on the Siena Heights Saints.  The game is scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM.