KISSIMEE, Fla. --- The Mississippi College men's soccer team opened the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Tournament with a 2-2 draw against Roberts Wesleyan College on Monday afternoon at the Austin-Tindall Complex.

The Choctaws (12-5-2) and the Redhawks (11-6-3) each earned a point from the result in Pool A of the tournament. The nine-team tournament has three pools and the winner of each, along with a wild card, will advance to the semi-finals on Friday. MC tied both matches in last year's NCCAA National Tournament against Judson and Spring Arbor.

After both teams were held scoreless over the first 41 minutes, the Choctaws finally broke through when junior Ewahia Amhanesi scored his sixth goal of the season to give MC the 1-0 halftime lead. Senior Brian Vasquez tallied his 17th assist of the season and 40th of his career, both of which are school records.

The Choctaws kept the one-goal lead until the 79th minute when Michael Cunningham knotted the match for the Hawks on an unassisted goal.

Senior Stephen Roberson broke the tie in the 85th minute when he scored his 10th goal of the season on an assist from sophomore George Fradenburg. Roberson and Amhanesi each took three of the 18 shots for the Choctaws.

It appeared as though MC was headed to an opening match victory, but the Redhawks got another unassisted goal from Cunningham in the 89th minute to equalize and send the match into overtime. Both teams saw opportunities in the extra periods but neither could convert.

Freshman goalkeeper Humberto Pelaez made five saves for the Choctaws, while Michael Scavone stopped three shots for RWC.

The Redhawks will play Palm Beach Atlantic on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern), while the Choctaws will face PBA on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern).