Our conference opener kicks off right after the EC women beat Franklin 3-2 after falling behind 2-0 in the first half. It's our second consecutive night game on turf and we are certainly fortunate to have a turf field at EC to help us prepare.
As I suspected, the game is intense from the start. FC are really solid and capable of some good stuff but despite being under pressure often we face up well. In the 35th minute Franklin have a corner from the left which is cleared only just outside the box and the resultant shot is deflected off Tamru Taye over Chris Marshal's head in goal. We're 1-0 down away from home and looking at an eighth straight defeat.
We rally in the second half and begin to keep possession better and get a few chances but time is running out. In the 85th minute Corey Campbell launches a long cross from the left which finds Tamru Taye at the far post. Tamru sends the header back over/across the keeper and in at the far corner. Big shouts and celebrations. Get the water ready for OT but remember the Thomas More game where they scored immediately after our late equalizer. Not this time. Regulation ends even in goals (1-1), shots (10-10), shots on goal (3-3) and corners (4-4).
Overtime produces no winner despite Jacob Ebbs having a late opportunity on a counter. Not "the" result but "a" result which gets us off the mark in conference far better than last year (3-0 loss to Anderson). Spirits are better now but we know the challenges we face. On Wednesday we play Defiance, 1-0 winners away to Mount St. Joseph on this day. MSJ finished ahead of us last year and were in the HCAC tournament. Last year we drew at home with Defiance in a lightning shortened game.
A notable visitor at the game was Nathan Cline ('03), a four-year starter at center back who turned up with wife Megan, son and daughter.
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