Hurla’s Late Equalizer Secures Wildcats’ 1-1 Draw at Park

PARKVILLE, Mo. - Coming into the match with four straight wins, (RV) Baker men's soccer got a late game-tying goal from Parker Hurla to earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Park on Saturday.

After the two teams battled through a scoreless first half, the Pirates scored quickly in the second half before Hurla knocked in the equalizer on a header in the 78th minute for BU to steal a key point in the conference standings.

The two sides were nearly even in shots as well with Baker carrying a 12-10 favor with nine of its shots coming in the second half. BU held a decisive advantage in set pieces with all seven corner kicks in the match being taken by the visitors.

Despite neither team finding the back of the net, the first half was pretty eventful in Parkville, Mo. with over 20 combined fouls in the opening 45 minutes of the heated Heart matchup. Both squads sent three shots apiece towards goal in the first 45 minutes with Park adding a couple of attempts that didn't land on target.

Then, in the second half, a BU foul in its own box led to a Pirates penalty kick in the 51st minute, which the hosts were able to convert to take a 1-0 lead with nearly a whole half left to play.

Baker broke through late with Hurla and teammate Yushann Malcolm being subbed on just a few minutes ahead of the equalizer. On a throw-in deep into BU's attacking half, Malcolm hurled a ball towards the front of the post that found Hurla, who was able to redirect it into the back of the net to tie the match at 1-1 with less than 15 minutes remaining.

For Hurla, it was his third goal of the season with all three of his goals coming in the last five matches. The sophomore from Eudora, Kan. has matched his scoring total from last year when he tallied three goals in his debut campaign.

The result snapped a four-match winning streak for BU, but continued its unbeaten stretch which goes all the way back to a road setback at William Penn almost a month ago (Sept. 20).

With a 7-4-2 record overall, Baker will return to the pitch on Wednesday, Oct. 15 with a road match at Missouri Baptist. Kickoff from St. Louis, Mo. is scheduled for 1 p.m. with the men's match being played first ahead of the women's game.

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