GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – After going down 2-0 at the half, the University of West Alabama women's soccer team bounced back with two second half goals to earn a 2-2 tie with Tusculum University (Tenn.), Friday from Pioneer Field. 

Each team starts the year with an identical record of 0-0-1. Additionally, this is the second year of an NCAA rule change where a regular season match is tied at the end of regulation, there is no overtime and the game ends. Extra time will return to play in the postseason, starting with the conference tournament. 

"We had a great showing in the second half. Makela's offensive showing was well-deserved, and she was very unlucky not to have another goal. Aileen Charles also had an outstanding display, capped off with an assist on our second goal. Our defense really buckled down in the second half. Overall, we are satisfied with our performance and looking forward to the home opener on Sunday," said head coach Sam Wilson, who made his head coaching debut with the Tigers on Friday.

The Pioneers struck first off a corner kick by Marja Enste in the 25th minute. The pass found Sydney Grant, and she tapped the ball into the net for the early 1-0 advantage. 

Nearly four minutes later, Grant made it a 2-0 advantage off a double assist by Joey Garrett and Wilma Axelsson. 

That would be the last shot Tusculum would make until the 63rd minute, and that was plenty of time for West Alabama to get back into the contest. 

Close to four minutes into the start of the second half, a costly mistake for the home team was pounced on quickly by the visitors. Looking to reset the offense, Venla Makela put pressure on the defense to make a clean pass, but she intercepted the ball and scored UWA's first goal of the year on an empty net. 

Later in the 55th minute, Makela found Aileen Charles's pass from the right side to even the match at two goals apiece. 

After allowing Tusculum six first half shots, the West Alabama defense tightened up by allowing two shots in the final 45 minutes, with one saved by Dior Wilson in the 65th minute. 

In the second stanza, the offense stepped up for UWA, taking nine shots. The Tigers had two chances to break the tie in the 76th and 86th minutes, but the strikes were both saved. 

Scoring just two goals during her 2022 campaign, sophomore Venla Makela matched that in the season opener on Friday, taking four total shots. 

Aileen Charles, who assisted on the second goal for UWA, also had three shots on the afternoon. 

Dior Wilson (0-0-1) made just two saves in full time, but she and the defense allowed two shots in the final 60-plus minutes. 

Sydney Grant scored both goals for the Pioneers on three shots, while Grayson Patterson stopped five shots in goal. 

West Alabama (0-0-1) returns to action on Sunday, as they host Clayton State (Ga.) at 2 p.m. from Tiger Stadium.