FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team battled to a 1-1 draw with Fairmont State in their regular season finale on Wednesday evening.
 
Amidst heavy winds and dropping temperatures, both teams were evenly balanced to begin the game, going over 10 minutes without either side registering a shot. The Bobcats tried to capitalize on a loose ball through the Falcon defense, with senior Carly Gillette running through, but her left-footed effort was straight at keeper Olivia Johnston. Fairmont would take their first shot five minutes later, firing wide of sophomore keeper Kayla Doty's net.
 
As chances became more frequent, sophomore Mollie Rebuck cut in from the left wing and tried to curl one past Johnston but shot too close to her for an easy catch. The Falcons had a great chance to take the lead 21 minutes in but Valentina Gianinetto blazed her shot over the bar from eight yards out. Off a Bobcat corner kick, senior Skylar Ehart got her foot to a volley but couldn't keep it down.
 
With 13 minutes until the break, Gianinetto was played into the box by Payton Parliament, taking a pair of touches before slotting past Doty for a 1-0 Fairmont lead. As time ticked down, it appeared that the advantage would hold, however with two and a half minutes left, a corner swung in by Gillette pinged around several bodies before sophomore Cassidy Paige made solid contact, volleying into the top right corner for the 1-1 equalizer. The Falcons looked to go back ahead just before the half, but Doty made a comfortable save to close out the first 45.
 
Each side had an effort within the first five minutes of the second period, with Fairmont firing high and senior Morgan Mrizek putting a volley wide of the mark. Seven minutes later, Gianinetto was denied by Doty, as she stayed the busier of the two keepers with another stop 20 minutes in. Neither side managed a shot for the final 25, with the Bobcats earning a corner kick but unable to generate a shot out of it, ending the contest with the one-all draw.
 
Fairmont held a 9-6 advantage in shots, with four on target to Frostburg's three.
 
With the tie, the Bobcats now stand at 10-4-4 on the year, while the Falcons move to 13-2-3. Both teams now advance to the Mountain East Conference Tournament on Sunday, November 9, where Frostburg will host Charleston (WV) at a time to be determined. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.