WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team battled back from a two-goal deficit to tie West Liberty 2-2 on the road Sunday afternoon.
 
In a chilly, rainy affair, both teams found chances hard to come by in the opening 10 minutes. Senior Toni Fiocco-Mizer and sophomore Carly Gillette both saw their shots blocked on counter-attacks, then senior Dez Mortimer fired high and wide from distance.
 
After junior Carolyn DeSena also had an effort blocked, the Hilltoppers grew their way into the game, forcing senior keeper Ashley Bilger into a diving save to her right 17 and a half minutes in. From the resulting corner, Amelia Compston swung the ball all the way into the goal, giving WLU a 1-0 lead. Fiocco-Mizer found herself some space at the top-right corner of the 18, but couldn't put enough power into her shot to trouble West Liberty keeper Zara Wickert.
 
WLU doubled their lead with just under 11 minutes remaining in the half, as Maya Taggart was played in behind with a through ball, sneaking her shot past Bilger into the bottom left corner. In the final eight minutes of the half, FSU piled on the pressure, as junior Keely Knotts fired just over the bar, followed by Gillette and junior Mei Homman putting efforts wide.
 
With just under three minutes to go, junior Cat Smith gave the Bobcats life again, as her initial shot off a corner kick was blocked, the ball fell right back to her, pinging it into the upper-left 90 to give Frostburg some momentum headed into the half at 2-1.
 
Fiocco-Mizer opened the second half by forcing a save from Wickert, as neither team was able to generate much offense in the first 15 minutes. With a half hour left, Smith fired wide, then the Hilltoppers missed their mark from a corner, followed by Bilger making an easy catch on a shot from distance. Frostburg had a flurry of chances a few minutes later, as sophomore Morgan Mrizek and Fiocco-Mizer both had their shots charged down, followed by Knotts and senior Hannah Thompson having their efforts pushed wide by Wickert.
 
FSU kept up their attacking efforts, as another corner was awarded, with the Hilltoppers clearing the ball off the line as multiple Bobcats tried to force the ball into the goal. Mrizek's rebound fell just outside the box to Homman, who crossed for Smith to volley home and get the equalizer at 2-2.
 
Going in search of a winner, Smith, Homman, and Mrizek all missed high, unable to test Wickert in goal. Junior Mackenzie Alonso came close to scoring herself or finding Fiocco-Mizer at the back post to finish, but Wickert smartly dove on the ball to prevent either from happening. With just under nine minutes left, Gillette hooked a shot towards goal after a throw, but didn't have the pace to trouble Wickert. As time ticked down, Knotts had a shot blocked following a corner, then Gillette tried to score a last-gasp winner from deep, but fell wide of the mark to end in a 2-2 draw.
 
Frostburg out-shot West Liberty 26-7, with eight shots on goal to five for the hosts.
 
With the result, FSU moves to 14-1-2 on the year, while WLU is now 6-7-4. The Bobcats will return home for their regular season finale against Fairmont State on Wednesday, November 1 at 6 p.m. Information and udpates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.