The Wabash College soccer team kicked off the promising 2016 season Thursday night with 2-2 draw against non-conference foe Franklin College. Freshman Gabriel Anguiano and sophomore Nikola Kajmakoski found the back of the net for the Little Giants.
 
Yellow cards and missed opportunities defined Thursday nights game for both teams. Wabash started the match on the attack, controlling the game on the offensive end for the majority of the first half. The Little Giants thought they scored the first goal of the season off the head of senior defenseman, Riley Pelton, early in the first half. However, the goal was called off after the officials whistled the Little Giants for a handball.
 
The first half ended in a scoreless, low-shooting stalemate. Wabash outshot Franklin 5 shots to 4 in the first half, but the Little Giants were also awarded the only yellow card of the half.
 
The Little Giants found themselves in a back and forth struggle in the second half, until a Franklin goal in the 58^th minute. Freshman Gabriel Anguiano put the equalizing goal in the back of the net in the 64^th minute to knot the game at 1-1. Wabash found new life, and sought to take the lead.
 
Five minutes later, the Little Giants took advantage of a penalty in the box. Sophomore Nikola Kajmakoski scored on the ensuing penalty kick to give Wabash the lead. As the momentum strengthened on the side of Wabash, Franklin did not back down. As the game's final minutes ticked away, Franklin executed a free kick in the 84th minute to tie the game again.
 
The back and forth struggle for the Little Giants continued into the two overtime periods. Wabash outshot Franklin once again throughout the two overtime periods, but neither team produced any goals to show after the end of overtime.
 
"It's always a good physical battle with Franklin," Wabash head coach Chris Keller said. "They're very well coached. We just failed to keep our composure, especially some of the upper classmen who have been here. That was detrimental to the two goals. We gave up too many fouls with some lazy defending. We need to improve in that area. There is definitely a lot to work on heading into our next match."
 
Wabash College (0-0-1) has a quick turn around with a home match against Hanover College on Sunday, September 4. The game kicks off at 2:00 pm at Mud Hollow Stadium.