CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's soccer team opened the season with a 1-1 draw with Rhodes College Friday evening in Conway. 

Alex Bethke opened the game with a shot at the 2:30 mark before Rhodes responded, putting a shot on frame. UMHB and the Lynx each recorded two more shots in the half but the game remained scoreless after the first 45 minutes. 

UMHB put a pair of shots on frame in the second half before Jason Viano found a low-center gap to put the Lynx up 1-0. Xjavier Martinez responded quickly for the Cru, scoring off a Sawyer Young assist to even the game at 1-1 less than two minutes later. Both teams exchanged a pair of shots in the final minute but regulation expired in a 1-1 draw. 

Ethan Dacaret and Xjavier Martinez led the Cru with two shots each while five other Crusaders each added one. Ethan Hilliard earned the complete-game win for the Cru, giving up one goal with two saves in the match. 

UMHB returns to action on Sunday, September 3rd in a 12 p.m. contest against Hendrix College in Conway. The Cru opens home action on Friday, September 8th in a 7:30 p.m. match against Texas Lutheran University at the Cru Soccer Field in Belton.