MORAGA, Calif. – The Saint Mary's Women's Soccer team were held to a draw by the University of San Diego Torero's Saturday afternoon, despite taking the lead twice in the second half. 
 
Isabella Santavicca and Emily Jensen found the net for the Gaels, but both times the Toreros were able to sneak equalizers past the Saint Mary's defense. 
 
EARLY CHANCES
Saint Mary's were eager from the onset, immediately trying to discomfort the San Diego defense. The Toreros were quickly forced to sit deep and play the counter attack game against the Gaels. 
 
It didn't take long for San Diego to establish themselves however, as their midfielders did a good job of stealing headers from the likes of Emma Barthel and Emily Jensen. 
 
Barthel and Jensen were all over the field in the first half, and it was Barthel who nearly put the Gaels on the board in the 11^th minute as she launched a shot from outside of the box that just flew over the crossbar.
 
Jensen was busy creating opportunities as well, as she threaded a beautiful pass through two Torero's defender to Nayeli Diaz. Diaz managed to get her shot off, but it was smothered by the San Diego keeper. 
 
The best chance of the half for the Gaels came via Isabella Santavicca, who laced a shot off the left goalpost. The San Diego keeper managed to just deflect the ball enough to keep the score knotted in the 18^th minute. 
 
 
SECOND HALF SUCCESS
It didn't take long for Saint Mary's to find the net in the second half, as Isabella Santavicca opened the scoring just two minutes into the half. She cut inside from the top left of the box and curled a beautiful right footed shot past the San Diego keeper into the top right corner of the net to gives the Gaels a 1-0 lead in the 47^th minute. 
 
Saint Mary's kept their foot on the pedal after Santavicca's opener, searching for a way to extend their lead. 
 
The Toreros had other plans, managing to find a goal of their own to level the score in the 63^rd minute. After an over-the-top pass forced Taylor Poland off her line, the San Diego forward was able to karate kick the shot past Poland and into the net to tie the game 1-1. 
 
QUICK TO RESPOND
Saint Mary's didn't waste much time after conceding to the Toreros, as Emily Jensen continued to dominate play in the midfield. She was rewarded for her hard work in the 68^th minute, as she danced between two San Diego defenders, before unloading a low, right footed shot that got past the outstretched glove of the Toreros keeper to make it 2-1 Gaels just four minutes after the San Diego equalizer. 
 
But in the blink of an eye, the Toreros were level again, as this time they were able to catch the Gaels off-guard just seconds after the kickoff following Jensen's goal. 
 
The San Diego forward streaked towards the right side of box, and powered a right footed shot across goal and under the outstretched arms of Taylor Poland. After the Gaels took the lead 40 seconds prior, San Diego once again found themselves level at 2-2.
 
Both teams were aggressive in the final twenty minutes, each side believing they could find a winner.
 
The Toreros final chance came at the beginning of the 89^th minute, as they managed to find a few gaps in the Gaels defense, creating a last second counter attack. The Toreros streaked towards Taylor Poland's goal, and the junior did just enough to sway the shot, as it glanced just inches wide of the right post. 
 
Saint Mary's had one final chance just thirty seconds later, as Emily Jensen streaked towards the Toreros goal. Despite laying off a great pass to Tessa Salvestrin, the freshman forward was too eager and was called for offsides before she could hoist a cross back into the box. 
 
Despite creating 18 shots compared to San Diego's seven, the Gaels were unable to find a winner in the dying moments of the match. 
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will head up to Oregon next week to play the Portland Pilots in their rescheduled game from October 19^th. The match is set to kick off at 7 pm on Wednesday October 26.