RALEIGH, N.C.  Though scoring the first two goals of the game and finishing with a 31-6 advantage in shots, Methodist women's soccer had to settle for a double-overtime 2-2 tie with host Meredith College in USA South Athletic Conference action on the turf of the Meredith Athletic Field.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist ties Meredith, 2-2 OT2
Records: Methodist 0-0-1 (0-0-1 USA South); Meredith 0-1-1 (0-1-1)
Location: Meredith Athletic Field; Raleigh, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Not one of the goals was ordinary in the contest, beginning with the opening score by Aiden Sherry. Awarded a penalty kick in the 28th minute, Sherry's elevating shot was gloved high by Meredith goalkeeper Miranda Lutz, only to have the deflection clang off the crossbar right back to Sherry who pounded a second chance into the back of the netting.
• The Monarchs went into the halftime break with that slim 1-0 lead, but eight minutes into second half action they doubled the advantage on a goal from Harris Barr. Teammate Laura Harris cranked a hard and low line-drive shot from near the top of the box that Lutz dove for and deflected toward the right corner. Barr was there to collect the ball, however, and one-timed a shot back across the goal behind Lutz for a 2-0 Methodist advantage.
• Not even a minute later, though, what started as a harmless midfield launch toward the box ended with Meredith's Morgan Thomas splitting two defenders and beating a charging Maggie Hunt from her line for the Avenging Angels' first goal of the season.
• The equalizing score was also unplanned as a cross from deep in the right corner connected with just the toe of one Meredith attacker, deflecting the path of the cross just enough to travel past a Monarch defender and to the boot of Lillian Fox, who guided a shot behind Hunt -- who had come out to defend that initial toe-touch attacker.
• Methodist dominated the two overtime periods, getting off nine shots while shutting down the Meredith attack.

NUMBERS

• On top of the 31-6 shots advantage, Methodist also racked up a 20-4 advantage in shots on goal.
• Lutz was the player of the game, keeping her team in the contest by making 18 saves, three of which came in the overtime periods.
• Methodist's 7-2 edge in corner kicks also defined a dominant possession game by the Monarchs.

NEXT UP

• Methodist will travel to Misenheimer, N.C., on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. conference outing against host Pfeiffer University.
• The Avenging Angels head to the same site for their next game, taking on host Pfeiffer on Saturday afternoon.