Lynchburg, Va. -- The opening game for the Shellenberger Classic and the Lynchburg Women's Soccer 2016 season did not disappoint even though the Hornets and Blue Jays finished in a draw at 1-1 Saturday afternoon.

The atmosphere was electric as the women took the field for the first half. The fans were bustling in the stands and the women were itching to get the game started. After the whistle blew, the Hornets wasted no time and were immediately on the attack as sophomore Caitlin Mertens was able to work her way through the Blue Jay defense into the box and rip a shot that beat the keeper but went whispering by the right post.

Fellow sophomore Kennedy Jakubek was all over the pitch as she ran down long balls, conitinually pestered the Johns Hopkins backline, recorded two shots and with her hustle was able to earn corners multiple times for the Hornets.

The first half ended with no score but both teams had multiple opportunities. Johns Hopkins had wingers running free down the left side the entire first half but could not connect with the players making runs. Lynchburg had multiple transitions at the midfield but could not capitalize on any.

Teamwork and determination were the keys to success for both teams in the second 45 minutes. After only a minute the Hornets earned a corner. Senior Elizabeth Oden whipped in a beautiful service and junior Emily Maxwell connect perfectly on a header which the majority of the stadium had stood up to celebrate because of the pace of the header but out of nowhere a Blue Jay defender cleared the shot and any danger looming for Johns Hopkins. The Lynchburg fans were just as shocked as the team and even Maxwell could not believe her rocket of a header stayed out.

2015 Third-Team All-American Meg Van de Loo of Johns Hopkins finally broke the stalemate with a shot from about 23 yards out that soared just over the fingertips of Hornet goalkeeper Tess Frelick into the back fo the net. That was the only shot that Frelick allowed past all game as she recorded six saves in the draw.

Blue Jay defender obstructed most of the shots the Hornets fired off in the second half but the Hornets found an open window and made sure to sting the Blue Jays. With just over a minute left in regulation sophomore Sarah Hammock was able to manuever down the right side of the pitch and deliver a low cross into the box and the receiver was junior Hannah Olds. Though the cross was a beauty, the pace of the service made the ball bounce into the air and during those few milliseconds the entire stadium held its breath. As the ball descended, Olds swung her leg and lost her balance but not before connecting on a shot that beat the keeper and shook the roof of the net. The goal returned the atmosphere that was present at the beginning of the game as the fans, bench and players erupted in celebration.

The late goal sent the game into overtime but exhaustion plagued both teams as the first overtime rolled into a second. The teams combined for only five shots and four corners while neither goalie was really tested in the two extra periods.

With the draw both teams go to 0-0-1 and the Hornets look to get their first victory of the 2016 campaign tomorrow, Sept. 4 at 1:00 pm, as they face the Sewanee Tigers, who were the winner of the second game Saturday evening.