LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The soccer portion of the Governor's I-40 Showdown did not disappoint in a match that saw major drama until the final blow of the whistle. Central Arkansas's women's soccer team earned a point in the I-40 Showdown; playing Little Rock to a 2-2 draw after 110 minutes of play.
 
Central Arkansas (0-4-1) took an early 1-0 advantage, but would concede an equalizer and eventually fall behind late in the second half before ultimately equalizing again with less than a second remaining in the match.
 
First Half
 

• The Bears would take an early 1-0 advantage inside ten minutes of play after Lauren Hargus blasted home a strike into the side netting on a set piece.  

 

• Little Rock would equalize in the 17^th minute after a strike from just outside the corner of the 18 yard box was just over the outstretched hands of UCA keeper Reagan McCombs as it dropped into the back of the net.

 

• Despite conceding, the Bears continued to press numbers forward in an attempt to regain the lead and nearly did so seconds after conceding the equalizer. Lauren Hargus nearly grabbed her second goal of the match, but was denied by the UALR keeper on a hard hit strike down the middle.

  

• Kirsten Rumbold nearly grabbed the lead for the Bears again on the stroke of halftime with two well hit strikes in the 35^th and 42^nd minutes, but again the UALR keeper was equal to the task and the two squads headed into halftime at one goal apiece.

 
 
Second Half and Extra Time
 

• The second half got off to a slow start for both teams as there were no shots on target for either squad through the first 20 minutes. The pace picked up in the 65^th minute when Connie Awuku-Darkoh found herself in a great scoring position, being one on one with the keeper. However, UALR's keeper was again equal to the task on a great stop quickly diving down to her right side.

 

• The 76^th minute saw Little Rock regain the advantage after a counter attack opportunity left their striker in a 1 on 1 situation with UCA keeper McCombs. The UALR striker was as cool as you'd like, sliding the ball into the bottom right corner.

 

• The 90^th minute saw arguably one of the greatest finishes to a soccer match when senior Bridget Mansour took the ball on a half-volley opportunity from just inside the six yard box and hit it as true as any footballer possibly could, equalizing for her squad with less than one second remaining in the match.

 

• Extra time saw a few scoring chances that included a Sydney Brough strike that nearly saw the net bulging, but the outstretched fingertips of the UALR keeper again denied the Bears of a golden goal winner.

 
 
UCA finished the match with 18 total shots, hitting seven of them on frame. McCombs was big tonight for the Bears as she finished the match with eight saves. 
 
Coach Bishop Quotes
 
"To be able to fight to the very end was just phenomenal for our group. We were unfortunate to have to get that last one (goal) to tie it instead of win it because I thought we dominated play tonight. We have been playing very well and hadn't been getting the results we wanted, but I think our girls see they're doing a lot of good things and know we'll be prepared for our conference season."