DENVER – The St. Edward's Hilltoppers headed an equalizer into the back of the net in the final two minutes and goalkeeper ABBY CARLSON turned back Metro State Denver's final two opportunities in the chaotic finish of a 1-1 draw. 

A year after both teams battled to a scoreless double-overtime draw in Austin, the Hilltoppers and Roadrunners' defenses picked up where they left off through a scoreless first half. The better part of both teams' possessions stayed in the midfield with neither defense ceding ground and attackers resorting to shots well outside the 18-yard box. 

When a Roadrunner appeared to run into open space towards the net, reigning LSC Defensive Player of the Week MADDI DAVIS did a superb job of forcing the attacker wide and personally escorting her opponent into non-threatening territory. 

The result was a 4-0 first-half advantage in corner kicks for MSU Denver, but a 3-1 edge for the Hilltoppers in total shots taken. 

With neither team unable to make a dent in the other's defense, it was an offensive mistake by the Hilltoppers that allowed the Roadrunners an opportunistic goal. Looking for a pressure release against the MSU Denver defense, St. Edward's retreated and sent the ball to its keeper, looking to switch the field. 

Carlson made the quick pass to defender REAGAN DYKES in the left flat but Metro State's Jaimy Sawaged read the play and timed her run perfectly, catching Dykes off guard just as she made her turn, intercepting the pass sprinting full tilt towards the net. 

Sawaged took a wider angle, forcing Carlson to come out to try and interrupt the one-on-nil breakaway with an attempted slide tackle wide of the net. Davis sprinted back into the play to break up a cross, but Sawaged regained possession and gently booted the ball into the back-left corner at the 52-minute mark for the 1-0 lead. 

As the second half wore on, St. Edward's became more ambitious in its shot selection, firing off deep shots at the first opportunity presented. 

Metro State managed to take possession into its attacking third in the final few minutes and attempted to use the deep corner to waste time via multiple corner kicks, reminiscent of St. Edward's tactics to close out Emporia State. However, the Hilltoppers were able to extricate the ball from the corner, going on a quick counter and earning a throw-in just past the midfield line. 

ELENA RAMOS BANET received a pass on the outskirts of the St. Edward's attacking third and launched a high, powerful kick that barely cleared over the MSU Denver keeper's outstretched hands and ricocheted hard off the bottom of the crossbar. 

TRISTYN CABELLO was the first player to arrive at the rebound in the box and attempted to head the ball in, only to have it punched back at her by the Roadrunner's keeper. Her second header came with a little more force, finding the back of the net for the equalizer with a minute-and-a-half remaining. 

The Roadrunners generated a corner kick and shot on net in the final minute, but Carlson turned both away to preserve the tie. St. Edward's leaves the match with a 2-1-1 record and will play Colorado State University-Pueblo on Sunday at noon CST.