First-years Barrett Freeman and Chloe Bourque connected for their first career points in the 86th^-minute to help lift the St. Lawrence University women's soccer team to a 1-1 tie against Nazareth University on Friday afternoon at Sandy MacAllaster Field.

Both squads moved to 0-0-1 on the young season with the draw.

"Overall, I was pleased with the team's resiliency from start to finish," said head coach Sinead McSharry "We adjusted on the fly during the game and that illustrates their passion for the game. We have to create and convert better chances in the final third."

After a feeling out process early in the contest, the Scarlet and Brown came alive in the first half to outshoot the Golden Flyers 11-6 and 5-4 in shots on goal. First-years Freeman and Zoe Rogan were attacking in the first 45 minutes of their careers getting a shot each. Veteran midfielders Kaitlyn Barton and Natalie Schock combined for three more good looks in the opening frame.



The scoreless opening half gave way to a 1-0 Nazareth lead in the 47th-minute. Just moments into the new half, Grace Lanzetta found Haley Glassman with a lengthy pass that Glassman was able to finish off to claim the lead.

The Saints immediately pushed back in the match and nearly scored twice. In the 58th-minute, Barton rifled a shot that went off the cross bar. Then later in the half, Emma Audi was threaded a perfect through-ball and beat the Nazareth goalkeeper, but her shot rung off the right woodwork.

The Scarlet and Brown continued to hold the momentum and finally broke through in the 86th-minute. Following a foul on the Golden Flyers, Bourque was afforded a free kick outside the box and took advantage launching the ball into traffic. The ball ricocheted off a defender and onto the awaiting left foot of Freeman, who beat Annika Monfort for her first career goal. The assist was also a first for Bourque, who likewise was playing in her first game.

The Saints kept rolling and tried to get the game-decider, but a Lily Pleau shot and a dangerous corner attempt came to pass as the game fell to a draw.

Keely Snode was stout in the woodwork for St. Lawrence stopping eight shots in the contest, while Monfort denied six Saints shots in the Nazareth goal.

The Scarlet and Brown finished with a 20-13 edge in shots and a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks, while the Golden Flyers held a 9-7 edge in shots on goal.

St. Lawrence will be back at the friendly confines of Sandy MacAllaster Field tomorrow in their second game of the North Country Classic. The Saints will line up against DeSales at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon for the game.