MINOT, N.D.  – In a tough season opener, against a top-tier opponent, the Minot State University women's soccer team came away with a 1-1 draw against Southwestern Oklahoma State University Sunday afternoon.

After falling behind 1-0 in the 14th minute on a goal from the Bulldogs' Olivia Butler, the Beavers continued to fight, nabbing a goal themselves in the 44th minute right before the half.

Taylor Bachman-Williams (Sr., D, Minot, N.D.) found the back of the net when she headed home a free kick taken from the left side of the field. Jamie Ayala (Jr., F, Temecula, Calif.) was credited with the assist on the set piece.

"We've done well on set pieces," head coach Jason Spain said. "We scored off one in each game on our trip to Idaho."

While the second half of play and the ensuing overtime periods proved to be a stalemate, the Beavers carried play in the final 65 minutes outshooting the Bulldogs 16-6. They also won themselves eight corner kicks compared to SWOSU's two over the course of the game.

"They cleared two or three off the line," Spain said of the Bulldogs defense. "We just didn't get another one."

Aside from Bachman-Williams' finish off a set piece, Jamie MacFarlane (Sr., F, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) led Minot State in the attacking third, recording eight shots and two shots on frame. Emilie Rebelo (Jr., CM, Sacramento, Calif.) forced the SWOSU goalkeeper to make a couple saves as well.

The midfield held their own as well.

"I was really pleased with how our midfield played, especially with [Kelli] Creese moving to the back," Spain said. "That was an area we had to pay a little bit more attention to."

Cori Kelly and Charlotte Eastman each had two shots apiece for SWOSU.

The Bulldogs are coming off their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II national tournament. They eliminated the Beavers in 2012 from tournament play in the teams' only other meeting in the history of the programs.

With a few practices in between this game and the next, the Beavers are primed to welcome another well-revered non-conference opponent to Herb Parker Stadium in their season opener this Thursday, Sept. 11. South Nazarene University travels to Minot for a game set for 6 p.m.

"They have a really good center-mid, so our midfield is going to have to be even better," Spain said.