Hickory, N.C. ? The Lenoir-Rhyne University Men?s Soccer Team (6-4-3, 2-1-2) battled South Atlantic Conference-foe Mars Hill College (4-6-3, 2-2-2) to a 1-1 draw on a cold and wet Wednesday night at the Moretz Sports ? Athletic Complex.? The result marks the Bears? third tie of the season and their second in league play.

L-R came out playing at an extremely high tempo.? Only 26 seconds into the match, sophomore striker Brendan Howard (Tampa, Fla.) gathered the ball 65 yards from goal, went with pace down the right side, split the Mars Hill defense and slotted a crisp ball near post from 12 yards out to put the Bears up 1-0.

The remainder of the first half was fought in the middle third of the field in an even battle where both teams generated five shots.

L-R turned the screws coming out of the break, holding a 17-8 advantage in shots over the Lions in the second half.

But in the 58th minute, Mars Hill put together a counter attack as the Lions? Danny O?Neill (Glasgow, SCOTLAND) slipped a ball across the Bears? goal from the right side and Friddy Hoegner (Cologne, GERMANY) popped it in just eight yards from goal to even the match at one.

Neither team could find the back of the net in the ensuing two overtime periods while both teams put up two shots each in the extra frames.? Howard rifled a ball 16 yards out that nicked the crossbar with just 1:03 remaining causing groans throughout the complex.

Senior goalkeeper Francisco Banuelos (Guadalajara, MEXICO) made seven saves in his second straight no-decision for L-R while Alex Huckabee (Kernersville, N.C.) made nine saves in goal for Mars Hill.

L-R continues South Atlantic Conference play this Saturday when it visits Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina.? Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m.? Mars Hill plays King on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., in Bristol, Tenn.