Sophomore forward Jessie Ayers scored in the 83rd minute to lift Colorado College to a 2-2 tie against the University of Utah in a non-conference game on Thursday afternoon at Stewart Field.

Ayers collected a pass from sophomore forward Jaclyn Silsby in the middle of the box and slipped the ball past goalkeeper Lindsey Luke at the right post.

“We’ve been working together and using each other more,” said Silsby. “That builds my confidence and helps everybody. Jessie is always punching high and you can count on her to be there. I kind of expected it and just touched it through.”

Colorado College improved to 1-0-3 and remained undefeated after four games for the first time since the 2008 squad began the year with a 6-0-1 record.

“Today’s game says a lot about out team’s character and how we respond to difficult situations,” senior midfielder/captain Hannah Peterson said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the third goal. It’s frustrating because we all know we could be in a better position right now.”

The game-tying goal came a little more than five minutes after Jenny Hutton gave the Utes a 2-1 lead. The junior midfielder put a cross from sophomore forward Katie Taylor just under the crossbar from 12 yards out.

“Down a goal, we played real well today,” head coach Geoff Bennett said. “We pushed, we caught a goal and we had a couple of other chances.

“Are we happy with the overall effort? Yes. Was it a pretty soccer game? No. I think both coaches would agree with that. Both teams worked. We battled and we came up with a draw.”

Colorado College broke the scoreless deadlock when Silsby struck seven minutes into the second half. Junior defender Katie Uyenishi lofted a shot from 25 yards out on the right side, but Luke was unable to punch the ball out of danger and Silsby knocked the ball out of mid-air near the left post for her first goal of the season.

Utah tied the contest 6:27 later when sophomore defender Avery Ford’s shot from 35 yards away on the right side found the upper left corner, just over the fingertips of CC freshman goalkeeper Kate Scheele.

Both teams had solid scoring opportunities late in the game. Ayers sent a rocket just outside the post after making a run on the left side with 1:20 remaining in regulation, and then put a shot inches outside the right post 1:05 into overtime.

The Utes had a chance with six minutes to play in the second overtime when junior midfielder Allie Wisner found herself alone in the middle of the box, but Scheele held her ground to make one of her five saves.

Luke made four of her seven saves in the second half, but her best was a diving stop on a crossing blast by junior midfielder Madison Whitehead that was headed for the right post in the 35th minute.

The Tigers launched 21 total shots, compared to 13 for Utah. CC also enjoyed a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Colorado College returns to action on Saturday night when it travels to Provo, Utah, to face BYU.

“We’re taking baby steps,” Bennett said. “Now we have to get mentally prepared to go on the road and play in what is arguably one of the top three toughest college soccer environments in the country against a perennial top-25 team.

“The road might be good for us.”

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