WESTMINSTER, Md. – The Neumann University men's soccer team opened up its 2018 campaign with a 1-1 draw at McDaniel College on Friday afternoon.

Freshman forward Gavin Ford made the most of his debut in a Neumann uniform, scoring the team's lone goal of the game. Senior goalkeeper Shane Smith was excellent in goal, stopping four shots on the day.

Despite a 7-4 edge in shots in the opening half of play, the Knights found themselves on the wrong side of a 1-0 score-line at the halftime break. McDaniel jumped into the lead in the 15^th minute, scoring off a corner kick to go out in front. Neumann responded with solid play to end the half but luck would not be on the visitors' side. The Knights rang two free-kicks from Ford and sophomore Marlon Trejo off the post as the Green Terror kept their one goal lead intact.

The Knights continued to press for an equalizer early in the second half, finding it via Ford's right foot just five minutes into the period. Off a quick restart at midfield, Ford found the ball deep in the McDaniel end off a pass from junior Brady Simon, faked a Green Terror defender and ripped home his first career collegiate goal into the right side netting to level the score at 1-1.

As the game winded down, both teams had chances to claim the win. McDaniel nearly headed home a second goal off another corner kick, but Smith made a fantastic save on the goal line to keep the game tied. Neumann's best late opportunity came when Trejo saw his second free-kick of the game nick off the crossbar.

McDaniel was reduced to ten men after receiving a red card with under ten minutes left to play, but the Knights could not capitalize on the advantage as the game moved into overtime. Neumann threw everything they had at the Green Terror net in the second extra session, but McDaniel was able to hold on for the 1-1 draw.

Neumann (0-0-1) gets right back to action tomorrow afternoon for another non-conference matchup at home versus Penn State Abington. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM.