ABILENE, Texas- Opening American Southwest Conference play with a back-and-forth battle, East Texas Baptist University and Hardin-Simmons played to a 2-2 draw Wednesday night at the HSU Soccer Complex. ETBU is now 5-5-1 and 0-0-1 in the ASC.
 
ETBU took 19 shots on the night with 10 on goal. Joshua Daley and Dylan Garcia both had three shots. Junior Lopez had four shots with two on goal. Lopez and Garcia recorded the goals for the Tigers.
 
Both teams played even in the first half as ETBU took eight shots to HSU's nine. The Cowboys, though, scored in the 23^rd minute for the 1-0 lead at the half.
 
Lopez sparked the Tigers in the second half, leveling the match in the 48th minute. ETBU continued to press their offense with four more shots as two were on goal over the next 25 minutes. Garcia finally broke through in the 76th minute giving the Tigers a 2-1 advantage on an assist by Victor Aniceto. HSU answered three minutes later to tie the match at two. Garcia had two more shots in the final three minutes but both missed as the match ended in a tie.
 
ETBU's Ryan Lord tallied seven saves in the match facing 21 shots.
 
After wrapping up a three-game road stretch, the Tigers return home to Cornish Field on Saturday to host the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at 7:30 p.m.