ADA, Okla. – In another gritty chapter of the Battle of the Tigers, the East Central University soccer team earned a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Ouachita Baptist on Wednesday afternoon at Tiger Field. The result mirrors the teams' earlier meeting this season and marks ECU's second consecutive draw in Great American Conference play.
 
The visitors struck first in the 11th minute to take an early 1-0 lead, but ECU responded quickly. Just over three minutes later, Avery Spadoni fired a shot that was saved by the keeper, but the loose ball fell to Melieah Hinnant, who quickly put it into the net for her second goal of the season to level the score at 1-1.
 
Ouachita regained the lead in the second half on a penalty kick in the 60th minute, but the home Tigers continued to press forward. Their persistence paid off in the 83rd minute when Haleigh Goodson rose above the defense to head home the equalizer, her first of the season, off a perfectly delivered corner kick from Ximena Resendiz.
 
Despite a few late opportunities, ECU couldn't find the winner and settled for the draw. With the result, the Tigers move to 0-4-3 in GAC play.
 
ECU dominated the offensive pace in the first half, outshooting Ouachita 7 to 3. However, the visiting Tigers came alive in the second half, ramping up their attack with 14 shots, while the home Tigers managed just five.
 
In goal, Madison Mayhall was busy throughout the match. She recorded nine saves, including two critical stops in the second half, that helped preserve the draw.
 
The ECU soccer team will now hit the road for the next two weeks, beginning with a matchup against Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 3 p.m.