ALVA, OKLA. – The East Central University soccer team earned a 1-1 double-overtime tie with Northwestern Oklahoma State in the first Great American Conference match of the 2014 season.

The Tigers (3-3-2, 0-0-1 GAC) and the Rangers (4-1-2, 0-0-1 GAC) finished the match with close to even shots totals, at 18-15 in favor of ECU.  The Tigers also had a slight eight to seven advantage in shots on goal, but had a clear lead in corners at 14-4.

"The team played great today," said head coach Riley Bailey.  "We started a bit slow, but really turned it on and outplayed them the rest of the match.  It's a good point of us and we look forward to another style of play on Saturday."

Junior Taylor Lowe tallied six saves in goal for ECU, moving her season record to 3-3-2.  Senior Milan Galloway and freshman Megan Lantrip led the team in shots.  Galloway tallied seven, with three on goal, and Lantrip added five, one on goal.

The Rangers took the lead early in the first half, scoring at 8:43.

ECU kept the pressure on NWOSU's goalkeeper throughout the first period, recording 11 shots and forcing her to record six saves.  With less than two minutes left to play, junior Krista Kahl tallied her first goal of the season to knot the score at one.

That is how regulation ended, despite the Rangers stepping up the offensive pressure in the second half.  NWOSU recorded 10 shots to the Tigers' three, with three finding their way to Lowe to save.

The stalemate continued through the first overtime, with ECU recording three shots (one save).  In the second overtime both teams tallied on shot, but neither was able to find the back of the net, resulting in the 1-1 tie.

The Tigers will continue their great-GAC road trip to open the league matches this Saturday, Sept. 27 at Southwestern Oklahoma State.  The match is set to begin at 1 p.m. at the SWOSU Soccer Field.