Mustangs and Bobcats draw to remain unbeaten

It was expected to be a tightly contested defensive affair, with Master's and St. Thomas (Fla.) only conceding one goal this season between the two of them in a combined 10 games going into Saturday's matchup.
 
However, each team scored twice in what proved to be a thrilling 2-2 draw on Reese Field as part of the Mustang Classic.
 
Master's (4-0-3) and St. Thomas (4-0-1), who are both receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll, maintained their unbeaten starts to the season with the tie.
 
"When all is said and done a 2-2 tie is probably a correct result," Master's Head Coach Curtis Lewis said. "I thought we had the better first half. They had the better second half and then a split of the OT's."
 
Kyndel Borman gave the Mustangs a dream start to the game in the fifth minute with her team-leading third goal of the campaign.
 
Lexi Baker found Anay Garcia with a ball over-the-top, which Garcia collected, beat a defender and played a ball across the face of goal for Borman to knock home.
 
Borman hit the crossbar not too long afterward, before Emma Hopkins, the Mustangs' leader in assists, scored her first goal of the season.
 
Baker launched forward a free kick from just beyond the midfield line, which St. Thomas won initially, but only as far as Alexandria Dunn at the top of the box. Dunn won the second ball, heading behind the Bobcat defense for Hopkins to run onto and finish with her left foot.
 
"I'm proud of our girls for getting two goals on a team that hasn't given up a goal all year long," Lewis said.
 
That two-goal advantage only lasted five minutes, though, as the Bobcats got one back in the 29th minute off a shot from outside the 18-yard-box.
 
St. Thomas then appeared to equalize just 30 seconds into the second half, but the goal was disallowed for offsides in the buildup.
 
The visitors continued to pressure the Mustang backline throughout the second half and finally got the TMU defense to break in the final minute of regulation with a cross from the left flank and subsequent finish at the back post.
 
"It's the small things that elite teams do to finish off games and to allow them to score in the final minute was a sign of our lack of experience," Lewis said, citing his team's relative youth. "Overall, we are pretty young with 24 underclassmen and that showed at the end."
 
Neither team mustered much going forward in the first overtime period, but TMU had a couple near-misses in the second half of overtime.
 
Hopkins almost scored again in the second overtime period, but the Bobcat keeper made a diving save to deny her a second goal of the game.
 
"Emma has been great on the wing beating players and getting crosses and shots," Lewis said of his senior left wingback. "Their goalkeeper made a great save on Emma to keep the game alive in OT."
 
In the second overtime period with about a minute remaining, Baker's free kick from distance narrowly glanced over the crossbar, as neither team was able to claim the victory.
 
"We struggled in their traps at times and the physicality of the game got to us a bit," Lewis said. "I was proud of them continuing to fight and still getting some opportunities even in OT."
 
Lewis was disappointed in his team allowing St. Thomas to equalize with under a minute to play, but overall is pleased with his team's unbeaten start to the season.
 
"From a big perspective we are undefeated, having played four games with a field player in goal," Lewis said. "We've only given up three goals in seven games and have figured out a way in three OT games to not lose. For a young team those are all very positive things.
 
"They had more shots today, but I thought we were more dangerous and had the better scoring opportunities."
 
Master's returns to Reese Field in a week's time for its final non-conference match before GSAC play starts later this month. The Mustangs will take on NCAA Division II Cal State San Marcos on Sep. 18 at 11 a.m.
 
"We're looking forward to hopefully getting Ari back in goal and Payton back into her center back position," Lewis said. "We're solving some small things and pushing forward. We play another strong opponent next Saturday in CSUSM."