CLAREMORE, Okla. —
Khari Carreno chipped in a pair of goals in the home opener, as the Hillcats (1-1-2) played Ouachita Baptist (0-2-2) to a 2-2 tie on Sunday at Soldier Field.
The Cats generated the first chances of the half, with
Bella Holland putting a shot on frame in the first minute before
Conley Knapp and Carreno added attempts just after the fourth minute. The Tigers built pressure from the 10th through the 13th minute with six shots and three corner kicks, but
Eliza Naegle saved efforts by Alexia Coca and Brookelyn Babb, and Carreno (1) put RSU ahead with her first goal of the season. Reese Brown tied it for the Tigers in the 32nd minute off an assist from Christina Alvarez. The score would remain tied at 1-1 heading into the intermission.
The Tigers pressed early in the second half while RSU absorbed a stretch that included Lily Ahlers hitting the top woodwork in the 46th minute, Naegle saving McKenna Wright's attempt and Ahlers striking the right woodwork in the 56th minute. Wright scored in the 57th minute to put the Tigers ahead 2-1, but the Hillcats answered when Carreno (2) finished off
Lydia Smith's assist in the 60th minute to tie the match at 2-2.
Taylor Mendez narrowly missed in the 68th minute, as the shot hit the left post, and
Calais Butts collected a pair of saves down the stretch to secure the 2-2 decision.
Carreno scored twice on three shots, putting two attempts on goal and finishing with four points. Smith recorded an assist for RSU. Naegle made five saves in goal, including four in the first half. Butts added a pair of saves as well.
RSU will return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the non-conference final against the East Central Tigers in Ada.
