OMAHA, Neb. – College of Saint Mary soccer took on the heat and a tough Kansas Wesleyan University squad Saturday morning to get a 1-1 nonconference tie.

"This game was one where we had to battle," CSM Coach Jordan Irsik said. "Kansas Wesleyan is a good team that was in the national tournament last year."

The Flames scored first when Marissa Ring found the back of the KWU net at 28:05. The Flames assist went to Abbie Anderson.

CSM had other chances to score in the opening half as the Flames outshot the Coyotes 9-5 during that timeframe. Both teams had four shots on goal in the second half.

"We definitely had opportunities to put the game away in the first half, but our chances didn't fall the way we wanted them and they caught us in a counter trying to score," Irsik said. "It's unfortunate because we played very well – but the heat and their pressure wore us down."

Kansas Wesleyan tied the game at 65:17 when Precious Nwosu scored off an assist from Yissel Navarro.

CSM goalkeeper Alivia Schade had two saves in net, while Allison Blumenthal finished with five for the Coyotes.

Despite settling for the tie, Irsik was pleased by a lot of things she saw from her squad in the team's home opener.

"I'm most excited about the different ways we tried to score," she said. "Almost every player on the field played a part in an attack and it was fun to see us play that tempo and that hungry.

"We will continue to build on it as the year goes on."

CSM is now 0-0-2 on the season and returns to action Wednesday at Mount Mercy University. Game time has been moved back to 8 p.m. due to the forecast.