OWENSBORO, Ky. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's soccer team opened the 2023 season with a 1-1 draw at Kentucky Wesleyan on Sunday afternoon at Panther Field in Owensboro, Ky. The Tritons are 0-0-1 while the Panthers are 1-0-1.

UMSL dominated for a majority of the first 45 minutes but it was Kentucky Wesleyan scoring the first goal of the contest as Carter Hoagland scored 1:03 before halftime with an assist from Max Wawrin.

The Tritons had an 8-5 advantage in shots in the frame with but the Panthers had three shots on goal to two for UMSL.

The Tritons got the equalizer 11:28 into the second half. Gus Mantia took a shot that was saved by Soufian Khaloufi but he couldn't control the rebound and Luca Saewe pounced on it and put it in for his first goal of the season.

UMSL had a chance at the go-ahead goal with under 10 minutes play as it was rewarded with a penalty kick. Devin Livingstone took the attempt and tried to beat Khaloufi to the lower right corner but Khaloufi beat him to the corner to make the save.

Livingstone had another chance in the 86th minute but was again turned away by Khaloufi.

KWC appeared to score the go-ahead goal on the counterattack but the goal was called back after it was deemed a Panther player was offside.

The Tritons had one final chance in the closing minute but Melo Mensah's shot off a free kick missed wide to the left.

UMSL outshot KWC 16-3 in the second half including 4-1 in shots on goal and finished the game with a 24-8 advantage in shots including 6-4 in shots on goal. The Tritons also had a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.

UMSL continues its season opening five-game road trip this Thursday, Sept. 7, as it travels to Fayette, Mo., to take on Central Methodist at 7 p.m. at Davis Field.