The UIS men's soccer team earned a 2-2 draw against No. 7-ranked Saginaw Valley State on Sunday afternoon at Kiwanis Stadium.

The Prairie Stars came out strong, building a 2-0 lead in the first half. Corne Boshoff converted a penalty kick in the 12th minute, and Adam Knaze followed with a goal in the 23rd minute to give UIS an early cushion against the nationally ranked opponent.

The Cardinals pulled one back before halftime, as Lui Ingavi scored unassisted in the 42nd minute. They then leveled the match in the 53rd minute on a goal from Kolja Thomas, assisted by Evan Baker.

Both teams pushed for the go-ahead goal as the match grew more physical, but neither side could break the deadlock.

UIS was outshot 18-5 but made the most of its opportunities, with all four of its shots on frame. Graduate transfer goalkeeper Landon Amick had a strong outing, recording nine saves to help preserve the result.

"Overall it was an intense game, not the highest soccer quality, but I thought we competed and showed fight against one of the top teams in the country," said head coach Graham Shaw. "We're disappointed not to come away with more, especially after earning a deserved lead. It was frustrating to concede on either side of halftime. That said, we held on and even had a chance to win it late. Overall, I'm proud of the team, and we're looking forward to Wednesday's game." 

Up Next
The Prairie Stars return to Kiwanis Stadium on Wednesday for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff against Purdue Northwest.