The Case Western Reserve University men's soccer team opened its season with a hard-fought draw with #21 Ohio Wesleyan University on Friday night at the Jay Martin Soccer Complex in Delaware, Ohio.

Both the Spartans and the Battling Bishops start the 2022 campaign with a record of 0-0-1. Case Western Reserve has still not lost a season opener since 2009, going 9-0-3 in that span.

Ohio Wesleyan struck first early in the match, opening the scoring in the 16th minute with a goal by Christopher Guerra.

In the 29th minute, senior midfielder Matt Vatne tied the score at one with his first goal of the season. Vatne received a pass from junior midfielder Jacob Salmon in the middle of the box, dribbled past a defender, and struck a shot toward the far post that went into the back of the net.

Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the second half. Under new NCAA rules for the 2022 season, the game ended in a tie after 90 minutes expired.

CWRU kept OWU off the board in the second half despite playing with 10 men for the last three minutes and 46 seconds. Overall, both sides played a physical game, combining for 42 fouls, seven yellow cards, and one red card. Spartan senior goalkeeper Jackson Kallen saved one shot in the contest, with the backline preventing shots from reaching him.  

Vatne recorded three of Case Western Reserve's 12 shots, including two on goal. First-year forward McLaren Baggett and sophomore midfielder Lukas Dalakis both tallied a pair of shots, with two of Baggett's requiring saves from the OWU goalkeeper.

CWRU will continue its road trip to Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, September 3, facing Capital University at 7 p.m.