St. Bonifacius, Minn. – The Crown men's soccer team fought out a hard earned 1-1 draw in the opening game of the UMAC season against Bethany Lutheran on Saturday. 

After conceding in the first half, the Storm came back level through Ger Jones in the 62^nd minute.  The goal was scored after a back pass was handled by BLC keeper Matt Bitter, setting up an indirect free kick from just 8 yards out.  With the better part of the Viking team lined up on the goal line, Sam Eckman teed up Jones who blasted a shot off the wall and in off the deflection, drawing things level with just under a half hour to play.

The two teams would continue to grind things out through regulation and two overtime periods, but neither could find a winner as the game finished 1-1.  Justin Lao made 10 big saves for the Storm to help earn a point.

It was a tale of two halves for the Storm, who were thoroughly outplayed in the first half, seeing themselves outshot 13-3 by the visitors.  The home side was able to right the ship in the second half, however, firing 10 shots to BLC's four.

There were some nervous moments to start the first overtime period as a dangerous ball in was almost mishandled by Lao, who batted the ball back from the goal line.  Right back Franz Schrantz, who played a fantastic 110 minutes, then swooped in and shanked his attempted clearance off the underside of the bar, seeing the ball somehow stay out and fly to safety.

The game was a physical one, with 28 combined fouls and six yellow cards, perhaps a sign of things to come during the hard fought UMAC season ahead.

The Storm return to action this Friday at Martin Luther, before traveling to Bethany Lutheran on Saturday for a non-conference re-match with the Vikings.