Converse University

ANDERSON, S.C. – After falling 2-0 early in the match, the Converse University men's soccer team (0-0-1) rattled off two consecutive goals of their own to draw with No. 17 Anderson (0-0-1) on Thursday night at Spero Financial Field on the campus of Anderson University.

Freshman Thiago Ausland recorded one save in his first career start. He played all 90 minutes in goal.

After Anderson built their lead with two goals in the first 18 minutes of the contest, sophomore forward Levi Bankirer wasted no time in cutting the lead back to one goal. He took a pass from fellow sophomore Alec Antista and, already having his defender beaten, popped the ball over the Trojans' goalkeeper just eight seconds after play resumed from the Trojans' second goal.

Nearly six minutes later, a costly mistake came for the Trojans as their goalkeeper played the ball with his hands outside of the box, earning an automatic red card and putting Anderson man-down with over 21 minutes remaining in the first half. The Valkyries were unable to capitalize in the first half and went to the break down 2-1.

The game was mostly quiet for much of the second half, with Anderson's only two shots of the half coming in a 15-second stretch in the 63rd minute, the latter of which earned Ausland his first career save.

In the 78th minute, sophomore forward Jacob Bandel passed the ball out to senior defender Jesper Schierholz, who was wide open at the top of the box and put a beautiful ball just out of reach of the outstretched fingertips of Anderson's backup goalkeeper.

The game's final scoring push came off of a Converse corner kick where sophomore defender Owen Nero headed the ball towards the net, but Anderson's keeper was able to corral the ball, keeping the game at its eventual final score of 2-2.

Next Up For the Valkyries:
Converse returns home to Weisiger Stadium on Saturday, August 29, to host the Tusculum Pioneers. Kickoff is set for 4:30 P.M.

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