ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - In a competitive, well-played matchup at Olson Field on a rainy Saturday afternoon, Eastern Women's Soccer overcame an early deficit and battled MAC Freedom foe Delaware Valley to a 2-2 draw. All four goals came in the first 27 minutes of play, and each team had a chance at the end that came up just short. Additionally, the Eagles broke their four-match goalless streak in their return to their home pitch.

It did not take long for Delaware Valley (5-4-1) to draw first blood. Off a series of strong passes amongst the Aggies' forward group, Kailey Horton found Savannah Rennix at the top of the box, and the graduate forward picked the top left corner of the net to put Delaware Valley ahead 1-0. The Eagles were able to find their legs offensively, and in the 16th minute, junior midfielder Kayla Bardonner buried a rebound off a Delaware Valley defender to tie the contest at 1-1. It was the first career tally for Bardonner.

The Aggies answered quickly, as Jess Williamson found Horton just outside the box, and the graduate from Drexel fired a shot low and to the left and into the back of the net for a 2-1 Delaware Valley lead. However, the Eagles once again had an answer. Off a strong cross from Nicole Eveland on the near side of the pitch, senior forward Madelyn Mullen deposited a shot into the upper-right hand corner of the net, her first goal of the season, to tie the contest at 2-2.

After that, the match became a defensive struggle, with neither team getting many great chances until the final three-and-a-half minutes. In a wild sequence in front of the net, first-year goalkeeper Faith Leake made a tremendous point-blank save on Rennix, first-year defender Zoe Roidl blocked a shot in front of a wide open net, and a third Delaware Valley chance went high over the net. In the final 15 seconds, Brynn Rathsam had a chance for a game winner, but Aggies' defender Ellie Olbrich blocked Rathsam's attempt to secure the 2-2 draw.

All statistics were fairly even. The Aggies outshot the Eagles 13-12, and both teams finished with six shots on target. The combination of Leake and sophomore Brooke Moskey made three saves, while Delaware Valley's goalkeeper Viola Anderson also made three stops.

"It was nice to see our tea generate more chances offensively, so we need to continue to build on that and look to capitalize in those moments," Eastern Head Coach Jess Shanahan said. "Happy to see both Kayla and Madelyn get on the scoreboard, as well as some young players really step up."

Eastern (1-3-2) will be back on the road Tuesday as they travel to Collegeville to take on Ursinus College. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm.