Birmingham, Ala. – For just the second time in program history, the Western Carolina women's soccer team battled to a draw on the pitch against the Samford Bulldogs, earning a tie in Thursday night's Southern Conference opener.

Western Carolina overcame two separate one-goal deficits, as Isabella DeMarco cashed in a breakaway with a game-tying goal in the 58th minute to knot the match at one. Later, trailing 2-1, Emma Soucy netted her first goal of the season to tie it at 2-2 in the 79th minute as the rematch of the last two SoCon Championship matches ended in a draw.

The first 45 minutes between the two SoCon powerhouses proved to be relatively even, save for Samford's goal in the 26th minute. Milla Syska recorded the first offensive opportunity of the night, blasting a shot on net in the 5th minute, where Samford's Peyton Hull collected her first save of the match.  

The Bulldogs controlled the pace of play following Syska's early chance, though, taking two shots and a pair of corner kicks before Isabella DeMarco fired WCU's second shot of the night. Samford's first scoring chance came in the 13th minute, but Leanne Trudel saved the Sarah Holland offering. Lucie Bertrand responded with another strong scoring chance for the Catamounts only a minute later, but Hull again denied the opportunity.  

Following another flurry of shots by the home team and a pair of attempts by the Catamounts, Samford broke through in the 26th minute as Martha Bishop finished off a free kick from Clare Nicholas for the go-ahead goal and the 1-0 lead.

The two squads traded blows down the stretch in the first half, with Trudel denying two more scoring chances.

Isabella DeMarco hammered the Bulldogs early in the second half, taking WCU's first four shots of the period and netting the initial equalizer to cap off the early barrage. Trudel launched a goal kick to midfield, where Ava Robitaille directed a header to Milla Syska just on the Samford side of midfield. Syska took one touch to flick the ball ahead to DeMarco, who outraced the Bulldogs and buried her one-on-one with Hull.

Samford outshot the Catamounts 6-1 following WCU's goal, including scoring another go-ahead marker in the 74th minute. Emma Soucy responded for the Catamounts not long after, scratching the score column for the first time this season on a long shot on the right wing.

Knotted at two, the Catamounts applied heavy pressure over the final 10 minutes, including back-to-back shots on goal from DeMarco and Syska coming in the 84th minute, but neither team managed to break the tie.

Both teams enjoyed plenty of offensive statistical success, with the two squads combining for 37 shots (SAM 20; WCU 17), putting 22 on goal with 11 a side. The Bulldogs posted six corner kicks to WCU's two, with both keepers recording career highs in saves at nine.

Catamount Notables:

• The Catamounts and Bulldogs drew for only the second time in series history and the first time since a 1-1 tie in Birmingham in 2009.
• The 37 combined shots and 22 combined shots on goal are the most in a match in series history.
• The two goals scored by the Catamounts were the second-most allowed in a match by the Bulldogs this season.
• Isabella DeMarco's goal snapped a five-match shutout streak for the Bulldogs.
• Leanne Trudel tied a career-high in saves, denying nine would-be goals in the draw.
• Emma Soucy netted her first goal of the season and the third of her career.
• Milla Syska has assisted Isabella DeMarco on both of her goals this season.

Up Next for The Catamounts:

Western Carolina remains on the road as it takes on the Mercer Bears, who battled to a 2-2 draw with the Furman Paladins in their SoCon opener. Kick in Macon, Ga., is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21.

The Catamounts will then return home for the first time since August 31 as they host the aforementioned Paladins on Friday, Sept. 26, for a 7 p.m. kick.