WENHAM, Mass.—Gordon Women's Soccer overcame a one-goal deficit twice, but could not find the clincher in a 2-2 tie with visiting Western New England on Saturday. Freshman Jill Kefalas (Wenham, Mass.) scored twice for the Fighting Scots, but Golden Bears' keeper Briana Kubik (Blandford, Mass.) was stellar in net to minimize Gordon's scoring in the Commonwealth Coast Conference opener for both teams.
 
The Golden Bears owned possession for a majority of the first half and that persistence led to a goal in the 12^th minute. A foul a midfield gave Western New England a chance to press the Scots in their defensive third. Katelyn Cummings (Feeding Hills, Mass.) sent a perfect free kick over the top of the defense to the feet of Brooke Labrie (Granby, Mass.). The junior forward poked it into the net for the first goal of the game.
 
Gordon capitalized on a field reverse in the 20^th minute. The Scots earned a corner kick, which did not immediately provide a scoring chance, but Gordon was able to keep the ball in its offensive half. After initial opportunity was pushed away, Naomi Shearer (Hampden, Maine) found Kefalas at the top of the 18-yard box for the open look. The first-year obliged by tucking the ball inside the post on the left side.
 
Momentum looked to switch in Gordon's favor following the goal, but Kubik stayed steady in the face of adversity. Kubik made two saves on fast breaks before the end of the first half to keep the score tied at one.
 
The second half didn't cool off the Scots from creating scoring chances, but Kubik continued to keep them out of the net. Jamie Breton (Concord, N.H.) had a fastbreak opportunity thwarted on a fingertip save by the WNE keeper, while Kara Dry (Madison, Conn.) almost snuck a free kick past the senior.
 
The Golden Bears countered back in the 60^th minute and pounced on a mistake in the Gordon defense. A failed clear off of a corner kick went right back to Erin Grimes (Attleboro, Mass.), who passed it on to Emma Norden (Belchertown, Mass.) for the go-ahead.
 
Gordon answered only four minutes later in Kefalas' second strike of the game. The freshman made a juke move to the right of the goal and sent one just underneath the crossbar for the equalizer.
 
The Scots looked like the would take their first lead of the game with only five minutes remaining on a shot by Chandler Stier (Redlands, Calif.). The junior hit a sinking ball to the right side of the net, but it pinged off the post and away from danger. Freshman Asha Steele (Bedford, N.H.) had an eerily similar attempt in the first overtime, but it hit off the crossbar again.
 
Gordon outshot Western New England 30-16 in the game and 19-13 on target. Kubik's 17 saves led the Golden Bears, while McKenzie Dion (North Grafton, Mass.) made seven.
 
After a three game home stand, Gordon (1-2-1) goes back on the road on Wednesday to play New England College. Western New England (1-2-2) hosts St. Lawrence tomorrow at noon.