SALISBURY, N.C. - In a hard-fought contest, West Virginia State battled No. 9 Catawba to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night at Frock Field. Despite being outshot 12-3 and having fewer corner kicks, the Yellow Jackets capitalized on a key second-half opportunity to earn a result.

West Virginia State managed just three total shots in the game, with only one on target, but made the most of their limited chances. Midfielder Leila Karam delivered the team's lone goal, while Ellise Rennie and Naomi Njeri contributed the other two shots. Goalkeeper Laura Galindo made five critical saves to keep the Yellow Jackets level.

After a scoreless first half, Catawba struck first in the 50th minute when Bree Ehmer converted a penalty kick to give the Lady Indians a 1-0 lead. West Virginia State responded strongly, showing resilience against the highly-ranked opponent. In the 67th minute, Karam found the back of the net with a crucial equalizer, assisted by Billie Jean Davies, to level the match at 1-1.

Galindo's standout performance between the posts, coupled with key defensive efforts, helped the Yellow Jackets secure a hard-earned draw. West Virginia State moves to 0-1-1 on the season, while Catawba remains unbeaten at 2-0-1.

WVSU heads to Glenville for their Mountain East Conference opener against the Pioneers on Sunday, Sept. 15. Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.