JOLIET, Ill. -- The University of St. Francis women's soccer team continued Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon, playing to a 1-1 draw against Olivet Nazarene University.  The matchup, which featured the league's only remaining unbeaten teams, lived up to its billing as both teams showcased parity within each respective half.  With the tie, the Fighting Saints stand at 5-3-4 overall and 3-0-2 in CCAC play on the season.

First Half
Olivet Nazarene (4-4-3, 4-0-1) set the pace of the match in the first half, ripping off four shot attempts in the opening 20 minutes of play.  The Tigers would go on to produce a total of nine shots over the first 45 minutes.  St. Francis countered with its very first shot attempt finding the back of the ONU net via the foot of Litzy Flores in the 22nd minute.  The play was set up by a blocked shot attempt from ONU that was deflected to a USF defender.  The Saints then weaved their way past midfield and advanced the ball to junior midfielder Ixchel Pelayo, who was stationed to the right of the net.  Pelayo crossed the ball high to the middle, where Flores grounded the pass and immediately shot for the score to the left of the ONU keeper to give the Saints the 1-0 lead.  That shot would be the only one ONU would allow the Saints to take in the half, but it was all St. Francis needed to gain the 1-0 advantage heading into the break.

Second Half
The Saints came out as the aggressors in the second half, dominating the frame with 16 shot attempts compared to ONU's five.  USF registered three quick shot attempts in the first 10 minutes, but after the 55th-minute attempt failed, the Tigers pressed forward and countered the Saints with offensive pressure of their own. That resulted in an ONU score in the 57th minute, which leveled the score at 1-1.  The St. Francis offense controlled the possession the majority of the second-half minutes and came within inches of claiming an outright victory.  In the 83rd minute, Isabel Diez's attempt from 25 yards out got past the outstretched arms of the ONU keeper, but hit directly off the crossbar.  The Saints were able to generate seven total shot attempts on target in the half, but could not convert their drives into scores, ending the match in a 1-1 draw.

Krystal Rodriguez moved to 5-3-4 in goal following the tie, making three saves in 90 minutes.  Diez took six of St. Francis' 17 shot attempts, while Ariadne Gonzalez authored four attempts with three being on goal.

Up Next
The Saints will be back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 9 when they travel to Crown Point, Ind. to take on the Governors State University Jaguars. The CCAC face-off will take place at the Crown Point Sportsplex and is set to begin at 1 pm.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.