Emporia State soccer hosted their first home game of the 2024-25 season on Sept. 18, going head-to-head with Drury University and playing to a 1-1 tie.
At nine minutes, freshman forward Megan Kephart made the first shot of the match. The Panthers changed the pace of the game by attempting multiple shots in the first half, one of which caused a foul in the box. This forced the Hornets to fall behind as Drury scored their penalty kick in the 41st minute, making the score 1-0.
In the second half, Drury still managed to get more shots in than the Hornets. With less than nine minutes remaining in the game, however, the Hornets earned a free kick. Ella Ruliffson made the first goal of her Hornet career and tied the score 1-1 after the ball made it into the net following a deflection off a Drury defender.
Neither Drury or Emporia managed to get a good shot off and add any points in the remaining minutes. In the last eight minutes, Drury got off four shot attempts but none were successful. Many of Drury’s shot attempts throughout the game did not make it into the net because of ESU goalkeeper Mackenzi Goen, who had seven saves for the Hornets throughout the match.
ESU soccer will play their next match against Newman University in their MIAA opener at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27 at the ESU pitch.