OTTAWA, Kan. – Two goals by
Denaya Evans led to a 2-2 draw against William Woods in the 2022 home opener for the Ottawa University women's soccer team.
Despite Ottawa dominating possession to start the game, it was the Owls who struck first with a goal from Sydney Balducci on the counterattack. The Owls lead would last no more than three minutes, when Evans scored her first goal of the game in the 15
th minute, with the assist coming from a through ball by
Reighna Werner.
Both teams locked down for the next 20 minutes, until Evans struck again in the 36
th minute. Evans used her speed to run down a through ball from
Daisy Herrera, dribbling past Owls goalkeeper Belle Boschert and calmly finishing into an empty net to give the Braves a 2-1 lead. OU would head into the break with the same scoreline.
The Owls seemed to come out with more intensity in the second half, threatening OU's defense early in the half. William Woods found a breakthrough to score the equalizer in the 60
th minute, knotting the score at 2-2.
Ottawa's offense picked up some urgency after the Owls' tying goal, taking a total of 15 shots in the second half. OU had eight shots on goal in the final half but couldn't finish several quality opportunities that were saved by Owls keeper Belle Boschert. Both teams settled for the 2-2 draw at the end of regulation.
Up Next: The Braves host Park University at AdventHealth Field on Saturday at 1 p.m.