Marion, Ind. - The Marian women's soccer team opened Crossroads League play on Wednesday night, playing to a 1-1 draw against the No. 17 Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats. Marian's draw gives them one point in the CL table to open the year, as they move to 7-1-2 overall on the season.

The Knights set the pace of the match in the first half, ripping a pair of shot attempts in the opening four minutes of the evening as Layla Brown put two shots on goal that were both saved. The Wildcats would counter with a Mallory Krueger shot, but the attempt was denied by Mycheala Johnson, who returned to her starting role in goal. Marian would win back the shot battle as Brown, Katie Koger, and Lizzie Chlystun ripped shots on goal, but all were saved by Avery Sluss.

In the 29th minute, Marian was able to close the momentum that had been building with a goal, as Layla Brown collected a Sienna Mullen pass and buried her eighth score of the season to push Marian on top 1-0. The offense would subside after the goal, with just one shot coming over the final 16 minutes of the half, with the attempt from the Wildcats being denied by Johnson.

Marian held a 7-3 lead in shot attempts in the first half, as they held a 1-0 lead at the break.

The second half repeated a similar start to the first, with Marian taking the first two shot attempts of the period, coming off the feet of Brown and Koger. Indiana Wesleyan would counter with an offensive attack, showing an aggressive style that had them flagged twice for offside calls. The Knights broke the possession run with shot attempts from Layla Brown and Erin Kelly, but after the 71st and 73rd minute attempts failed, the Wildcats countered in the 80th minute. Alejandra Tavarez collected a Katelyn VanderArk pass and pushed a shot past Johnson, leveling the score 1-1.

The Knights switched gears in the final 10 minutes and managed a shot on goal from Marian Corro Celma, but the header was saved once more by Sluss. Marian would take a corner kick and free kick in the final five minutes of the match, but could not convert their set pieces into scores, ending the match in a 1-1 draw.

Johnson moved to 2-1-1 in goal following the draw, making two saves in 90 minutes. Brown took six of Marian's 12 shot attempts, with five attempts going on goal. as she scored the team's lone goal. Mullen recorded an assist in her 66 minutes of work, and Celma, Kelly, Chlystun, and Koger each took one shot on goal.

Marian will look to secure their first Crossroads League win of the season on Saturday when they host Goshen College for their senior day match. Senior day festivities will take place before the match, and kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

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