LUBBOCK, Texas – St. Edward's men's soccer surrendered eight second-half shots and a goal seconds shy of the 86th minute to allow Lubbock Christian to battle back to a 2-2 draw.
 
The Hilltoppers opened aggressively, with an early opportunity fizzling out due to an offside penalty and a dangerous HUNTER MERRITT attempt missing right. After two Lubbock Christian corner kicks, Merritt put a shot on goal that Chaparral keeper Connor Pettigrew stopped.
 
IRVIN ABARCA intercepted a Lubbock Christian clearance attempt at midfield in the 13th minute and led ARTHUR SOUZA with a perfectly paced pace down the left for a one-touch goal, Souza's sixth this season.
 
Lubbock Christian responded with the equalizer when Nako Amare pressured St. Edward's building out the defensive backfield, turning the corner for the one-on-one opportunity against Hilltopper goalie KALEO FRANCIS and going high for the score. 
 
After an offside penalty negated a Chapparal score, the Hilltoppers put two shots on goal in the 32nd minute. Pettigrew stopped TODD FULLER's shot, and a team save kept JETHRO VOURJOLO's attempt out of the net. 
 
Fuller and Vourjolo made good more than 10 minutes later when the Hilltoppers got a free kick in the final minute. Fuller triggered the free kick, finding Vourjolo down the right side, who turned the corner and crossed it to EASTON JONES for the lead just before the half ended. 
 
Lubbock Christian came out aggressive against a more conservative Hilltopper team after the break, generating an 8-1 advantage in shot attempts, putting six on goal, and a 4-1 edge in corner kicks. ANGEL RAMIREZ started the second half in the net for St. Edward's and kept Lubbock Christian out of the net with five saves until Francisco Horta found Letienne Geoffroy out of a set piece to tie the game. 
 
St. Edward's is now 3-3-2 with the draw. The Hilltoppers will host Eastern New Mexico on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.