CANTON, Mo. - After a two-goal first-half lead turned into a one-goal deficit with minutes to play, a world-class strike by
Omar Murillo in the 90th minute earned a 3-3 draw for William Woods (2-3-1) at Culver-Stockton College (1-0-4).
Woods came out of the gates charging, earning a pair of corner kicks in the second minute and sustaining a high attacking line in the early moments of the match. The intensity paid off in the 13th minute for William Woods, as the Owls earned their third corner of the match.
Pedro Salmon opted to play it short to
Breck McGrail, and after a couple of touches into space McGrail sent a driven cross into the box finding the head of a wide open
Josh Seyer. Seyer rocketed the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.
WWU's Jefferson City connection paid off again just 90 seconds later, this time with
Miles Andrews on the service to McGrail. After a Wildcat turnover in midfield, the Owls sent a long ball to a streaking Andrews into the left corner. Two quick spin moves later, the freshman shook his marker and whipped a cross parallel to the end line, with McGrail outreaching Culver-Stockton's Jacob Morris for a near post header.
Andrews nearly added a third goal for the Woods in the 18th minute, but Wildcats goalkeeper Jack Gibson was able to close down quickly enough on the breakaway to smother the chip attempt by Andrews.
Less that 15 seconds out of the halftime break, McGrail nearly struck for his second of the match, but Gibson was again able to keep the margin at two for Culver-Stockton.
Culver-Stockton cut the deficit in half in the 56th minute, as Ruben Reinertsen was able to just outjump a pair of WWU defenders and get his head on a cross by Austin Jones. Reinertsen's header back across goal floated over the outstretched arms of
Matt Dworak and under the crossbar.
The goal changed the complexion of the match somewhat, and Culver-Stockton was able to eventually pull level in the 73rd minute, and eventually pull ahead in the 87th. Reinertsen again connected on the header, this time the 6-4 senior's effort went hard off the crossbar and down.
Despite surrendering the late goal, William Woods didn't falter down the stretch, with
Evan Filer nearly finding an equalizer in the 89th minute with a shot off the crossbar and
Cole Click's follow-up just high.
As the final minute wound down, the Owls manufactured one last opportunity, building the counterattack from a throw-in deep in their own third. C-SC looked to have eluded the pressure, but the Wildcats clearance fell to the feet of Murillo. The center back dribbled between a pair of defenders and unleashed a rocket into the top right corner of the net.
Woods held the edge offensively, with 12 shots on goal to just eight for C-SC. The Owls return home on Saturday, taking on another Heart of America opponent in Graceland University. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
