NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. — Manchester tied Earlham 1-1 on Saturday. Manchester trailed 1-0 at halftime before scoring in the second half and finishing with nine saves.
Manchester came through multiple Earlham attacking sequences before finding its answer after the break. During scoreless first-half stretches, Manchester kept Earlham off the board through one sequence that included two shots and two corners and another that included five Earlham shots. After Earlham moved in front,
Imari Francis scored in the second half to bring Manchester level. Manchester also got through another Earlham spell around that stretch, keeping the visitors from adding on during a run that included two shots and three corners.
Earlham finished with a 19-5 advantage in shots and put 10 attempts on goal, while Manchester put four of its five shots on frame.
Reagan Claus handled the volume in goal for Manchester with nine saves across 90 minutes. Francis scored on her only shot, and
Lily DeTray added three shots with two on goal as Manchester's attack made a high share of its limited attempts reach the target.
Manchester spent much of the first half defending Earlham pressure, with Claus making early saves and keeping the match at 0-0 through a pair of extended stretches. DeTray provided Manchester's main chances, sending a shot wide in the 14th minute and forcing Kaya Ito into a save at 23:03. Earlham broke through at 40:52 on Mallory Long's goal, and Manchester went to halftime trailing 1-0.
Francis scored in the 55th minute to bring Manchester level at 1-1 in the second half. Earlier, Claus saved a Julie Gatto shot during an Earlham push, and
Isabella Campbell forced a save at the other end before Manchester's goal. Claus added another save in the 70th minute, and DeTray put a late shot on frame before the match ended 1-1.
Francis scored an unassisted match-tying goal on her only shot. Claus made nine saves while playing all 90 minutes in goal. DeTray led Manchester with three shots, putting two on goal.
Manchester moves to 0-5-1 overall and 0-0-1 in conference play.
Up next, Manchester hosts Indiana University East on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 3:30 p.m. at Good Field.
