Dixie State went the distance but could not come away with a win as the Storm opened Pacific West Conference play with a 1-1 double overtime draw vs. Azusa Pacific Thursday night at Hansen Stadium. The tie moved DSU to 2-1-1, 0-0-1 in conference play, while APU left the pitch at 0-3-2/0-0-1 overall.

Both goals in the match came in the opening 45 minutes, with the first coming off the boot of sophomore Frankie Mallek (Yuma, Ariz./Kofa HS), who scored his team-leading second goal of the year from 15-yards out off a touch from junior Santiago Alejandro (Oakley, Calif./Alhambra HS) to spot DSU with a 1-0 lead. Mallek's goal was also the 400th point scored in the program's brief seven-plus year history.

The Cougars would answer with the equalizer with five minutes to play before intermission as Callum Wallace headed in a cross deep inside the DSU 6-yard box to knot the score at 1-1.

The teams battled back and forth through a scoreless second period, with both teams not able to cash in on scoring chances. DSU junior netminder Bradley Trella (Chandler, Ariz./Chandler HS) kept the Cougars at bay with three highlight reel saves, including two diving stops late in regulation. Meanwhile the Storm had a one shot on frame in the second stanza and two point-blank chances deep in the APU side in the first overtime, including a pair of header attempts senior Jorge Echavarria (Oakley, Calif./Alhambra HS) and Jason Arollo (Glendale, Ariz./Apollo HS), but the Cougar defense did just enough to turn the Storm away. Each team registered a shot on goal in the final OT period, but neither could put away the game winner before time expired.

"I thought we came out and put a lot of pressure [on APU]," Head Coach Josh Pittman said. "The team came out and scored a great goal and then struggled for the next 20 minutes. Unfortunately, we gave up a goal but in the second half we fixed our problems. It became a battle towards the end. Both teams battled to the end and had chances. The tie was probably a fitting result."

DSU outshot APU 18-13 in the match, with both teams registering seven shots on frame. Santiago led the Storm with six shots, two on goal, while Echavarria had four attempts, and Mallek and freshman Dominic Damato (Las Vegas, Nev./Shadow Ridge HS) had three shots each. Trella finished with six saves to lead the Storm defensive effort.

Dixie State will look for its first PacWest win this Saturday as the Storm welcomes in Point Loma for a Homecoming match at 12:30 p.m., at Hansen Stadium.