Photos By Michael Lipscomb
By Marquis Frias, Assistant Sports Editor
Nicole Freiler’s first collegiate goal was the late equalizer in a 2-2 draw between the women’s soccer team and Wilkes on Tuesday at Sassafras Field in Landmark Conference action.
Wilkes’ Abby Bolz found the back of the net just four minutes into the match, which also signified her first collegiate goal.
The River Hawks (5-7-1 overall, 0-2-1 Landmark) didn’t let Wilkes (4-4-4, 0-1-2) get too far ahead. In the tenth minute, Sydney Williams scored a goal off of Ava Billmeyer’s assist to tie the score at one all. Williams got her sixth goal of the year on this play, with Billmeyer getting her fourth assist of the year. Both are team leaders in the respective categories.
With the exciting opening 10 minutes of the game, it was looking like it could possibly be a shootout between both teams, but this game didn’t see their next goal until 8 minutes left in the game.
With the score still tied at 1-1, it would be Wilkes again striking first after Jess Shea’s goal put the Colonels up 2-1. Shea’s third goal couldn’t come at a better time for Wilkes, with Elena Krajain picking up her fourth assist of the year.
As time dwindled down in the match, the River Hawks’ chances were looking slim. That is, Freiler hit a clutch goal to tie the score back up 2-2 with only two minutes left in the match. Billmeyer also assisted on this goal.
With the equalizer coming so late, both teams rushed to try for a late goal in the remaining few seconds, but neither team was able to pull it off. The final whistle blew with the score still tied 2-2.
A tie for these teams doesn’t carry a negative impact or any real benefits for the Landmark Conference seedings. As it stands, both teams remain at their eight and nine spots respectively, with Wilkes only a game ahead of Susquehanna.
Susquehanna will next be in action at Drew on Saturday.
