GREENSBORO, NC – The Randolph College men's soccer team, starting its ODAC title defense Friday afternoon, battled to a 1-1 draw with the Cougars of Averett University in non-conference action from the Armfield Athletic Center on the campus of Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina.

                Randolph College (0-0-1), which came into the game as the preseason Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) preseason pick to win the league, seemed to dominate the first half. Randolph outshot the Cougars (0-0-1) in the period 5-1, with the best chance coming 27 minutes into the contest. Senior Sam McGarrity (Richmond, VA/James River) got clear and fired a shot that clanged off the post and out of danger.

                A few minutes before that, junior Corey Sindle (Gloucester, VA/Gloucester) had an opportunity, but AU keeper Justin Duksis made a great save to allow only a corner kick. The WildCats' Carter Smith (Greensboro, NC/Grimsley) was tested only once in the first half, as he made the stop on Jordan Bresler.

                The second half produced the first two goals of the contest, with Averett getting on the board first. Only 4:15 into the second period, the Cougars' John Thrower tallied the opening goal of the season to put AU up 1-0. Randolph started to press, and with just over eight minutes to go junior Jacob Lusczek (Fredericksburg, VA/Chancellor) posted an unassisted tally to knot the score at one.

                In the extra period, Randolph continued to get chances as the WildCats fired the only three shots of the overtime session. Duksis was up to the task on two of them to keep the Cougars in the contest. The second overtime did not produce a goal, and the WildCats and Averett settled for a tie in the season opener.

                Randolph outshot the Cougars 15-7 on the contest, and held a slight 7-6 edge in the corner kick department. Sindle finished with a game-high four shots, while junior Jacob Hood (New Market, MD/Linganore) had three attempts on goal. Both Smith and Duksis finished with four stops in net.

                The WildCats will be back in action Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. when they travel back to the Tar Heel State for a battle against Greensboro College.

--RANDOLPH--