BETHANY, Okla. – The Northwest Missouri State University women's soccer team battled the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm in its 2024 season debut to a hard-fought, 1-1, draw on Thursday evening.

Northwest (0-0-1) used a second-half equalizer goal from Ekaterina Theoharidis to tie its first regular-season test of the 2024 campaign.

Southern Nazarene (0-0-1) struck first just before the 41st minute with a goal from Kaira Boah, giving the Crimson Storm a 1-0 lead heading into halftime. Northwest struggled to create chances, managing only four shots in the half, with just one on target, compared to the Crimson Storm's four shots, three on-goal. Junior goalkeeper Lily Ellis kept the Bearcats in the game with two first-half saves. 

Out of the halftime break and midway through the second half, Northwest broke through with its first goal of the 2024 season, as Theoharidis found the back of the net in the 63rd minute, off an assist from Margaret Madden.

Northwest kept the ball on its attacking side of the pitch throughout the remainder of the contest, but missed on its three shot attempts by Madden, Julia Coacher and Siri Ott following the Theoharidis score. The Bearcats recorded 10 total shots with two on goal, while Southern Nazarene tallied 14 shots with five on target. 

Ellis played all 90 minutes of action in the cage for the 'Cats, making 4 saves and bringing her career total to 162. 

Saves
1. 394 - Kelsey Adams, 2010-13
2. 339 - Kathie Leach, 1999-01
3. 306 - Alison Sheridan, 2003-06
4. 204 - Ashley Malloy, 2014-17
5. 196 - Kira Lazenby, 2008-09
6. 174 - Alexis Serna Castillo, 2018-21
7. 162 - Lily Ellis, 2022-pres.
8. 156 - Michelle Goold, 2002, 04-05
9. 108 - Danielle Lawless, 2001-03
10. 77 - Ashley Williams, 2020-21

Northwest is set to head to Topeka, Kan., on Saturday, Sept. 7, for a neutral-site match up against the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The match is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m.