GRANTHAM, Pa. (September 1, 2017) – The No. 15 Stevens Institute of Technology women's soccer team dueled second-ranked and 2016 national runner-up Messiah College to a nil-nil draw in both teams' first action of the 2017 season on Friday night.

Duck goalkeeper Lindsey Mahnken made seven saves in the match, including four in the first half while she faced seven shots with Stevens unable to register any in the first 45 minutes.

After the break Stevens took five, including two volleys on the cage and one that hit the crossbar. The Falcons countered with another seven shots of their own, but none of them found paydirt, either, sending the game to extra time.

In the 20 minutes of overtime Messiah buzzed with seven more total shots, but Mahnken and the defensive line of Megan Lynes, Katie Goncalves and Erica O'Kelly kept the scoresheet clean. Zisi Komar notched a shot on goal in the second overtime period, but it was turned away by Sara Yunez.

I loved our fight tonight," said Stevens head coach Jeff Parker. "In the first half they were better, but we got back into it in the second. We learned a lot of good things about our freshmen. We had some good chances; we hit the crossbar.

"Messiah is a great program. We beat them last year, but this was the first time ever getting a result at their place. Neither team was particularly sharp, but we were able to come together as a team. Next we have to make sure we're ready to go tomorrow at 1 p.m.!"

The Ducks will have a quick turnaround in the Keystone State, where they'll take on Franklin and Marshall College at 1 p.m. in Lancaster on Saturday.