MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris men's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw with North Central University in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action Saturday afternoon in Morris, Minn. First-year student Jake Anargyros scored from the penalty spot, netting goals in back-to-back games.
 
The draw moves the Cougars to 3-5-3 overall and 1-2-2 in the UMAC, while the Rams go to 2-8-1 overall and 1-3-1 in conference play.
 
Both teams had early spells of possession, but neither could register a shot on target in the first 10 minutes. Nick Isensee made the first save of the match in the 12th minute. In the 28th minute, Diego Zavala Varela of NCU brought down Aaron Mackall on a promising attack and was shown a red card, giving the Cougars a man advantage for the remainder of the game.
 
The Cougars' first shot on goal came in the 39th minute from Rizal Howes-Agaton, but it was saved by the Rams' goalkeeper. Just over five minutes before halftime, Anargyros was fouled in the box and stepped up to convert the penalty, slotting it to the left of the keeper to give UMM a 1-0 lead at the break.
 
Much like the first half, there was limited action in front of either goal early in the second. Isensee made another save 12 minutes into the half, and Guillaume Hensgens recorded the Cougars' first shot on target of the period, but it was also saved.
 
North Central began to build attacking momentum and found the equalizer in the 75th minute. Neither team could find a winner in the final minutes, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
 
The Cougars recorded just three shots on target, each coming from a different player. Anargyros scored his fourth goal of the season and his second in as many games. Hensgens and Howes-Agaton also registered shots on target, while Mackall had three attempts but failed to hit the target. In goal, Isensee finished with five saves.
 
The Cougars return to action on Oct. 7 with a 4:30 p.m. kickoff at Crown College.