ATHENS, Tenn.— The Montreat men's soccer team passed through Athens, Tenn. Friday afternoon for its Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opener against the Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs, a squad receiving votes in the national poll. Even though the Cavaliers trailed early, they provided plenty of offensive fireworks in what ultimately became a 3-3 draw. As a result, the visitors moved to 1-2-1 (0-0-1 AAC) on the season, and they captured their first point from a match in Athens since Sept. 20, 2008.
 
Tennessee Wesleyan (1-1-1, 0-0-1 AAC) sprinted out to a 2-0 advantage thanks to a pair of goals less than 15 minutes into the matchup. The Bulldogs struck first on a direct free kick after 8:59 had passed, and they doubled their lead less than six minutes later.
 
Not to be outdone, the Cavs had a pair of first-half goals in store as well. With 11:44 remaining in the frame, Predrag Grbovic sized up a right-footed strike just inside the 18-yard box and whipped a shot past the diving TWU goalkeeper.
 
Moments before halftime, Montreat drew a foul in the penalty area, earning a PK in the process. Zeljko Stanojevic stepped up to the spot and leveled the match at 2-2 with merely 1:46 left prior to the intermission.
 
Despite the Cavaliers picking up a red card 30 seconds before the break, they still managed to enter the half with momentum. Montreat didn't register a save through 45 minutes, but it outshot the hosts both overall (6-2) and on target (4-2). The visitors also notched the period's lone corner kick.
 
The fireworks continued in the second half as the Cavs recorded their third straight goal to move in front, 3-2. A ball over the top found Stanojevic in the attacking third. Settling the ball with a deft touch, Stanojevic then slid a pass to Eric Eke at the top of the box. Beating the goalie with a shot just inside the right post, Eke secured his initial goal in a Montreat kit as he put the hosts on top 11:56 into the latter period.
 
Battling on its home field, Tennessee Wesleyan didn't give up. Another Cavalier red card brought the visitors down to nine men in the 74^th minute, and the Bulldogs tallied the equalizer in the 78^th minute. That concluded the scoring between the two sides as each squad came away with a point in the conference standings via the 3-3 draw.
 
"To continue to play so well after two questionable red cards was exactly the kind of mentality we are trying to build," said head coach Michael Bruce. "If we keep this same level against every other team in the conference, we will have a successful season. I'm excited about what this season holds."
 
Montreat owned a 10-8 edge in shots while doubling up the hosts in attempts on target (8-4). TWU finished the day with a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks, and both teams were whistled for 13 fouls. Stanojevic and Eke each racked up a goal and an assist in the tie, while Adrian Torres stopped one shot in net.
 
"This was the best performance I have witnessed in my time here as a coach. To come back from 2-0 down against a team receiving votes was good," Bruce added.
 
Montreat returns to Pulliam Stadium on Monday for a nonconference battle versus North Greenville University, an NCAA Division II program. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. in Black Mountain, N.C.