RICHMOND, Ky. – Freshman Ella Grode found the back of the net in the 88th minute to secure a come-from-behind 2-2 draw for EKU against former Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Illinois on Sunday afternoon at the EKU Soccer Field.
 
Freshmen Grode and Ana Manning combined for 11 shots, four shots on goal, two goals, and two assists in Sunday's fixture.  The draw for EKU (1-3-1) marked consecutive games resulting in at least one point earned.
 
Winger Paula Herranz also found herself on the stat sheet on Sunday, earning an assist towards Manning's goal in the 23rd minute.  The mark was the second of her career, tallying one in each of her two years with the club.
 
Eastern Illinois took a commanding 2-0 lead just eight minutes into Sunday's contest off a goal from Kate Germano and a free-kick goal from Carys Grieve off a yellow card for unsporting conduct.  The early Panther goals were marked at 8:11 and 8:52 on the timesheet.
 
The Colonels got on the board in the 23rd minute as Manning caught two one-touch passes from Herranz and Grode, who slid the ball into the lower right of the net past the EIU keeper Ashlyn Hoover.
 
Grode's assist was awarded at halftime as video review confirmed a heel flick that Manning used to score.  The assist was the first college point of her career.
 
EKU found its equalizer in the 88th as the Grode struck a cross off Hoover's gloves and into the lower left of the frame, marking the end of a hard-fought affair with a 2-2 draw and the first collegiate goal of her career.
 
Despite allowing two early goals, EKU outshot EIU by a wide 16-9 gap and took the advantage with 6-4 shots on goal.  Both teams combined for 10 corner kicks while two yellow cards were assessed.
 
EKU returns to action next Thursday traveling to in-state foe Northern Kentucky at 7 p.m. EST at the NKU Soccer Stadium.