LAKEWOOD, CO- The Cougars continued their opening weekend at Trailblazer Stadium on Sunday morning, taking on the Lions from Emmanuel University (GA). After an evenly matched first half and hard fought second half, CCU found a late equalizing goal with under a minute left in the game to earn a 2-2 draw. 

The Cougars started things off just seconds into the game with a freekick outside the 18 yard box. Tiago Gomes took it straight at the goalkeeper and Cole Foresman got the rebound but headed it just over the goal. Both teams would get their chances later on in the period with multiple corner kicks in the first half. An eventual freekick for the Lions would transition into a strike outside the box and into the back of the net for the first goal of the game. It would only take a few minutes for the Cougars to respond back with Shane Donnelly switching the field with a beautiful cross to Avery Hipps who would expertly head the ball far post to equalize. One last corner attempt in the half for CCU would go just wide, and the teams went into halftime level at 1-1. 

Both teams played tactically well in the second half, building up ball time and gaining confidence. The second half would test goalkeeper Beckett Pomeroy with two good saves to keep his side in the game and the Cougars would also take a few more shots but the keeper did well to read them. A foul near the goal line would quickly turn to a wonder strike from the Lions to notch the go ahead goal. Things would get chippy between both teams from there, and a red card handed out to Emmanuel would send them down to 10 players for the last five minutes. A short corner for CCU would see Lucas Peruzo send a cross to senior Lucca Casci who would get a small deflection and the late equalizing goal. The ref blew the final whistle as the game ended in a 2-2 tie. 

Both teams ended with eight shots total in the game, three on goal for the Cougars and four on goal for the Lions. 

The Cougars will now hit the road to face off against Southwest Baptist University on September 12 at 1 p.m. MST in Missouri.