CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M men's soccer team forced a draw with the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm at The Pitch on Tuesday night. The Buffs (0-2-1) trailed the Crimson Storm (2-1-2) by a goal at halftime but responded with a goal of their own in the second half.
 
WT started the game with a flurry of shots towards the Southern Nazarene goal in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Buffs found their first shot on goal in the 8^th minute when Josh Beeson placed a shot on frame, but Crimson Storm goalkeeper Andrej Krivopapic pushed the chance wide. Krivopapic stopped the next two shots on goal from WT, keeping the game tied. The Buffs nearly took the lead in the 33^rd minute when Bryan Martinez found open space to fire a shot. Martinez's shot floated just high and rattled the crossbar before Southern Nazarene cleared the threat.
 
The Buffs and Crimson Storm went into a battle for possession as the first half started to come to an end. With a minute and a half before halftime, Sam Scarth took a shot from outside the box but watched it go high. After the goal kick, SNU's Augustine Seaver sent a pass the length of the field where Unaiz Shajani broke through the WT back line. Shajani slipped a shot past a charging Asaf Kristal to score the game's first goal with 1:03 left before the break.
 
After regrouping in the locker room, the Buffs caught the Crimson Storm off guard to start the second half. The Buffs earned a throw-in right in front of their bench where Keaton Hartman found Dylan Watson. Watson maneuvered his way between a pair of Southern Nazarene defenders and sent a pass to the front of the goal. Watson's pass was nearly cleared before D'Jonte Davis tapped the ball into the back of the net, tying the game at one with only 50 seconds ran off the game clock.
 
The Buffs nearly took the lead in the 60^th minute when Matteo Landais ripped a shot from outside the box. Sending the ball of his right foot, Landais' shot froze Krivopapic but glanced off the side post. A few minutes later, Ben Siri side stepped a defender to take a shot, but Krivopapic save his scoring chance. As the game went under five minutes to play, Rotem Weiss earned WT a free kick from 20 yards out. Stepping up to take the free kick, Landais placed an accurate shot in the top half of the goal, but Krivopapic pushed the shot high and kept the game tied. The Buffs attempted to make a final push with less than a minute to go, but the clock expired.
 
WT stays at home for a matchup with Northwest Nazarene. The game with the Nighthawks is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday.