DETROIT, Mich. – Cleveland State (3-3-2, 0-0-1) fought all the way until the final whistle to earn a point in a 3-3 draw at Detroit (2-6-1, 0-0-1) in the league opener on Thursday evening. The game was delayed two hours at the start due to lightning in the area.
 
The Vikings opened the scoring in the ninth minute after Jordan Novak played a long through ball that was touched back by Tanji Sarver and finished off by Cortlyn Hefty for her first career goal and the 1-0 lead.
 
Detroit drew even in the 28th minute on an Abbey Lodato penalty kick. CSU continued to mount attacks but was unable to break through, as the game remained tied at the break. The Green and White held a 10-2 edge in shots in the half.
 
The Titans claimed their first lead of the game in the 51st minute on Lodato's second penalty kick. Six minutes later, Hefty bagged her second of the game off a pass from Novak to even the game 2-2.
 
Detroit went back ahead in the 72nd minute after Kylee Bradow finished off a cross from the right side. With 20 seconds remaining in the contest, Nikolina Miskovic rescued the league point with a header off a corner from Maria Bashardoust as the game ended 3-3. The goal was the first of her career.
 
Cleveland State held a 17-10 edge in shots, while the shots on goal favored the home team 7-6. Each team attempted six corners on the night.
 
Mayra Sesmas and Hefty each finished with four shots, while Hefty had a game-best three shots on goal. Elyse Broderick made four saves in goal.
 
The Green and White head back out on the road on Sunday, Sept. 21, to take on Oakland in league play.