MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's women's soccer team had to settle for a 2-2 tie after Eastern erased a multiple goal deficit in the second half of a non-conference contest on Wednesday night, Oct. 4.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

Penn State Harrisburg (5-3-3) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half but Eastern (1-4-4) refused to go away and answered with a pair of second half goals to earn a hard-fought draw on Wednesday night.

After peppering the Eagles for much of the opening half, the Lions eventually broke through when Hannah Wheeler headed home the game's first goal off a well-placed corner kick insertion from Kyla Brossoit in the 29th minute.

It was déjà vu all over again less than six minutes later when the home team earned another corner kick and capped it off with another marker. This time it was Wheeler inserting the ball and Abigail Frew finishing it off with a header goal with 9:34 left in the first half.

The momentum remained firmly in the corner of the Lions until early in the second half when the Eagles cut the deficit in half with an Emma Bennett goal in the 57th minute. The visitors continued to be aggressive and were rewarded when Bennett converted the equalizer 20 minutes later, this time off an assist from Madelyn Mullen.

The home team got off five shots, including two on goal, in the final six and a half minutes but Eastern goalkeeper Faith Leake made a pair of key saves to preserve the draw for her squad.

NOTABLES

- Wheeler tallied three total points on the night thanks to a goal and an assist.

- Wheeler's marker was her first of the season and the second of her career.

- Frew's goal was her second of the fall.

- The Lions outshot Eastern 15-to-3 overall and 9-to-3 in shots on goal.

- Leake made seven saves in goal for the Eagles.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions return to conference play when they travel south to face United East foe St. Mary's (Md.) on Saturday afternoon.

STAY CONNECTED 

Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.