Liaty nets late goal to earn Tarleton Soccer draw in season opener

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SAN ANTONIO — Freshman Sam Liaty netted her first career collegiate goal to lead Tarleton State Women’s Soccer to a 1-1 draw against Incarnate Word on Thursday night at Tom and Gayle Benson Stadium.

For the third consecutive season, the Texans open the year with a draw to move to 0-0-1. The Cardinals also start off the season, 0-0-1.

Liaty tied the match at one with her first collegiate goal in the 72^nd minute. Jaycie Bass took a corner in front of the bench and found Liaty on the opposite side of the goal. Liaty swiftly placed in the back of the night and erupted with excitement.

The match almost started out with a bang when freshman Adelaide Wyrzynski nearly found the back of the night in the first 30 seconds of the game. The freshman took a shot about 25 yards out and it required an impressive save by the Cardinal goalkeeper to keep the game deadlocked at zero.

Neither team was able to poke one past the other in the first half ending the first 45 minutes of play. The Texans out-shot the Cardinals 7-3 in the first half.

In the second half, the Cardinals put pressure on the Texans in the 63^rd minute. Texan goalkeeper Mikayla Kendall leaped up and deflected a shot off the tips of her fingers to keep the game tied at 0 after a UIW breakaway. On the ensuing corner, the Cardinals capitalized with Ellie Mai Sanford finding the back of the net.

But, the Texans fought back and the battle to tie the game up once again was on. Just eight minutes later, it was the Purple and White’s turn. The Texans earned a corner from the bench side of the field with Bass taking the kick. Bass placed the ball on the opposite post where the foot of Liaty was waiting to make the game a 1-1 tie.

In the final 17 minutes, neither team was able to earn a promising scoring chance, resulting in a 1-1 tie. The Texans out-shot the Cardinals, 16-9, but UIW held a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal. Tarleton led in corner kicks, 4-3.

Tarleton will finish its opening road trip on Sunday in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Texans will take on the Islanders of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 1 p.m. at Dugan Soccer & Track Stadium. The Purple and White will return home on Tuesday, August 20 to start a three-game homestand, opening with UTRGV at 7 p.m.