Box Score They showed offensive promise, and controlled play for much of the 90 minutes, but a defensive lapse in the final stage cost the Marauders the full three points on Saturday. McMaster led 2-0 before conceding two goals in the space of two minutes to draw the Waterloo Warriors 2-2 at Ron Joyce Stadium in the teams' OUA opener.

Jessie Faber and Maila Carboni had goals for the Marauders, with Carboni's standing as the rookie striker's first OUA goal in her very first appearance. Melanie Mitchell and Aysun Osmansoy had Waterloo's quick-fire double, which saw the Warriors steal a dramatic late point.

The early edge lay with the Marauders on Saturday, and the home side teased an opening goal just four minutes into the contest, when veteran midfielder Kelsey Orlando fed Taylor Lambert in the box, who chipped a far-post effort just wide. Probing again and again as the half wore on, McMaster came close to potting their first goal of the season when rookie striker Stephanie Roberts broke free and smashed a rising shot against the crossbar in the 20th minute.

It took five more minutes for the Marauders to find the edge, as a loose ball spilled to Faber on the edge of the box in the 25th minute and she slotted a controlled effort into the far side netting for 1-0.

Capping a strong half, Orlando crafted two more chances to score in the 40th minute, but could not find the final touch, and McMaster carried their one-goal advantage into the break.

The second half began quietly, with neither team carving out convincing chances until a flurry of action unfolded in the 60th minute. A Waterloo free kick bounced through the area and forced a flapping save from McMaster's Cristina Abbatangelo, and Marauder wing back Sophia Ykema responded by launching a furious counter that forced a matching save at the other end.

McMaster was suddenly sensing a second goal, and after Orlando threatened in the 65th minute, Carboni produced a powerful run and clinical shot to double the Marauders advantage in the 70th. The rookie latched on to a ball through the middle and surged past a first defender, turning past a second and curling a shot just inside the far post for 2-0.

The hosts seemed to be well on the way to an opening win, but Waterloo had other ideas. The Warriors forced a free kick into the box in the 85th minute, which Mitchell tracked and headed past Abbatangelo at the near post to slash the visitors deficit in half. Just two minutes later, the comeback was complete, as a loose ball rolled to Osmansoy at the edge of the box and the midfielder struck a beautiful shot off the inside of the far post and in.

Neither team produced a quality chance in the dying moments, and the two split the points as the final whistle blew.

McMaster returns to action on Sunday, when the York Lions visit Ron Joyce Stadium. That match gets underway at 1:00 p.m. and admission is free.