Box Score The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team twice delivered the equalizer but was unable to drive home the winning goal in its season opener, playing to a 2-2 tie with Johnson & Wales (Fla.) on Friday at Fin Land Field.
Freshman Brittany Lorentz scored a goal and assisted on another from junior Steph Moldenhauer, but the Sand Sharks had what they thought was the game-winner wiped off on an offside call in overtime.
The non-conference contest was as competitive as would be expected between two teams picked to finish eighth and ninth in the Sun Conference, but both coaches marveled at the opponent's improvement from a year ago.
USCB (0-0-1) controlled possession and outshot the Wildcats 25-18 overall and 15-10 in shots on frame, but the Sand Sharks twice had to play from behind.
"With only two juniors in our starting lineup, our youth showed at the start, but we soon settled and played well," USCB coach Ed Heberling said. "The second half was more exciting and led to numerous scoring opportunities that we didn't have in our scrimmages in preseason."
Johnson & Wales (0-0-1) scored just two minutes into the game when Christina Medina sent a long ball in for Allison Radford, who chased it down and placed in the lower-right corner of the goal for a 1-0 advantage.
The Sand Sharks answered less than a minute later, though, with Lorentz making a strong move in the box to create some space and booting a left-footed shot into the lower-right corner to tie it.
That's where it remained until the Wildcats' Deana Garbarino made a long run and outpaced the USCB back line to get one-on-one with the keeper for the go-ahead goal in the 52nd minute. USCB evened it again in the 72nd minute, when Moldenhauer put away a cross from Lorentz.
"Brittany's comeback goal 45 seconds after being scored on was great for our team," Heberling said. "Then Steph scoring to tie the game back up was what we needed to build confidence in front of the goal."
The Sand Sharks dominated the extra periods, holding the Wildcats without a shot and taking five shots of their own, but they were unable to convert.
The team's lone senior, Sinéad Byrne, just missed a game-winner when her blast sailed just above the crossbar, and freshman Bridgette Noonan sent the Sand Sharks into a premature celebration with a goal that was waved off.
The scoring chances the Sand Sharks produced, particularly in the second half and overtime, hinted at a more dynamic attack than a year ago, and USCB controlled play in the midfield and got a strong effort from a back line that starts two freshmen and two sophomores.
"I am excited about our young team and the potential we have this season," Heberling said. "Our talent and understanding of the game has significantly improved and will allow us to continue our development and improve our level of play."
The Sand Sharks are back at home Saturday, hosting West Virginia Tech at 1 p.m.
