On a cool and somewhat blustery October afternoon, the Alma College Women's Soccer team hosted Calvin College in a MIAA tilt at Scotland Yard. Each team scored a goal in the final six minutes of regulation but were scoreless in two overtimes, resulting in a 1-1 tie.

With the deadlock, Alma is now 8-3-1 on the season and 6-2-1 in the MIAA, while Calvin stands at 5-6-1 in 2014 and 4-4-1 in the league.

"Today was a game of ups and downs," said Alma Head Coach Matt Saul. "We played beautiful soccer at times and were in full control of the game. Then we would slip and hand Calvin momentum for a period of time.

"It's always disappointing to drop points, but I was very proud of our players response after we gave up a goal to go down in the last few minutes."

The first half was primarily a defensive battle as neither team was able to secure a real strong offensive opportunity. In the first 45 minutes, Alma notched three total shots and one on goal - by Jr. F Kelly Wilson (Midland/Dow)

By comparison, the Knights had six total shots at Alma Fr. GK Jenna Fassbender (Mattawan/Mattawan), with three on goal, but were unable to score. Calvin had the only corner kick of the first frame and also had five fouls to Alma's one.

The second half was more of the same, as each team went through stretches where offense was a struggle. Calvin had a couple of chances early in the frame, but could not capitalize. Conversely, Alma had a tough time generating offense as well, although they did hit a post midway through the half.

At 84:07, Calvin MF Allison Corp knocked in a ball that was rolling from a rebound and gave the Knights a 1-0 lead. Although that looked to be the difference in the game, the gritty Scots fought back to tie the ballgame at 1-1 at the 86:50 mark.

Somehow, Scots So. F Brianna Russell (Plainwell/Delton Kellogg) got her head on the ball in the middle of a scrum and banged it past Calvin GK Jenna Shelton to even the score. The two teams played out the final five minutes to head into overtime, but not before some excitement at the end of regulation.

Sr. M/F Kailey Vlug (Coopersville/Coopersville) booted a free kick from about 40 yards out in the final seconds and the ball sailed past Shelton and into the net. However, the horn sounded while the ball was in midair, effectively ending the half and sending the game into overtime.

The Scots had the only two shots of the first overtime and controlled the ball throughout, but could not score and the two teams headed into the second extra period. The final 10 minutes were played cautiously on both sides as nobody wanted to blink, and after a shotless frame, the teams walked off the pitch with the 1-1 tie.

So. M Jessica Burg (Grand Ledge/Grand Ledge) and Wilson led the Scots with two shots on goal a piece and had five and three total shots respectively. For the game, Alma had 17 total shots and six on goal, while Calvin countered with 21 total and six of their own on net. Fassbender made five saves on the day to earn the tie.

Alma next plays on Saturday when they host Albion College at Scotland Yard. Start time for the Homecoming 2014 matchup is scheduled for Noon.