CANTON, Ohio — Lake Erie and Malone battled to a 2-2 draw on Thursday in a Division II contest that showcased offensive firepower from both regional competitors. The Storm, sitting at 4-4-8 overall, controlled much of the first half before Malone mounted a second-half comeback to secure the point.
Lake Erie struck first when Dario Stadler converted in the 2nd minute with an assist from Gabriele Argint, giving the visitors an early advantage. The Storm doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Linus Oestlund found the back of the net, assisted by Florian Senf, putting Lake Erie in command heading into halftime.
Malone (1-11-3) emerged with renewed intensity after the break. Thembani Phoya pulled one back in the 47th minute, assisted by Ryan Ziskowski, cutting the deficit in half. The home side equalized when Andres Eizaga scored in the 57th minute, leveling the match and setting up a tense final stretch.
Lake Erie dominated possession in the second half, recording nine corner kicks compared to Malone's two. The Storm's aggressive approach generated eight shots on goal, though Malone's defense held firm. Malone managed five shots on goal despite playing from behind for much of the match, with goalkeeper making six saves to keep the game competitive.
Lucas Howe received a yellow card for dissent in the 53rd minute for Lake Erie. Malone accumulated four yellow cards, including cautions to Mason Gradel, Caleb