DECATUR  — Carthage men's soccer battled back from an early deficit and earned a 4-4 draw at Millikin on Saturday evening at Frank M. Lindsay Field.

• Final Score: Carthage 4 – Millikin 4
• Location: Decatur, Illinois – Frank M. Lindsay Field
• Records: Millikin 4-4-1 (0-0-1 CCIW); Carthage 1-3-2 (0-0-1 CCIW)

• The match opened with fireworks as Millikin struck twice in the opening seven minutes, including a goal just over two minutes in and a penalty conversion in the 24th minute.
• Carthage responded through Juan Ramirez, who netted his first goal of the night in the 14th minute to cut the deficit. After Millikin extended the lead to 3-1, Ramirez answered again in the 30th minute with his second tally of the half.
• Momentum swung further when Eli Schoffstall equalized in the 39th minute off an assist from Jordan Mok, sending the game into halftime knotted at 3-3.
• The Firebirds carried their push into the second half, taking their first lead in the 53rd minute when Lincoln Ponce finished a feed from Adrian Atanassov. Millikin quickly countered, leveling the match 4-4 just three minutes later.
• Both sides generated chances down the stretch, but neither could find a decisive goal.

• Juan Ramirez scored twice, giving him two goals on the season.
• Eli Schoffstall recorded his first-season goal.
• Lincoln Ponce added his first collegiate goal.
• Jordan Mok and Adrian Atanassov each tallied an assist.
• Goalkeeper Evan Kowalski made four saves over 90 minutes.

"It appeared tonight that both teams got a little over-excited for the first conference game of the season. There was a lot of energy and a lot of action, but I would have liked to have seen more control on our part. Hopefully, the first game nerves are out of the way, and we can continue to build and move forward."

• Carthage travels to UChicago on Tuesday, September 30, playing at 7 p.m.