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LAKELAND, Fla. – Senior Isabella Hodson's first goal of the season proved to be timely, occurring in the 88^th minute of a 1-1 draw for No. 8 Truett McConnell women's soccer on the road against No. 17 Southeastern Monday afternoon.
 
Hodson was awarded a penalty kick after a yellow card was issued against the Fire and netted the ball to the bottom right corner past the keeper to score the draw.
 
Southeastern outshot the Lady Bears 23-12, but the away team netted more shots on target, producing six to the Fire's five. The home squad saw 12 corner kicks while TMU only had two. The foul count was 8-6 with the Lady Bears having more.
 
Truett forced pressure early in the match, with two shots in the first 11 minutes of the contest, one of which sailed high while the other was blocked. The Fire immediately responded with a shot of their own, flying wide right of the net.
 
Both teams held down defensively until the 26^th minute of play, with the home team having two corner opportunities. Only one shot was seen, a header that was blocked. A wide shot by Southeastern concluded action as a hydration break occurred.
 
TMU's next shot didn't come until the 35^th minute, as a shot by Emma Windham was saved by keeper Madison Songer, one of her five saves on the day. From 43:19 until the end of the half, the Fire contributed two corners and three shots to the match, one of which was stopped by freshman Noa del Rio, who made her second start of the 2026 campaign.
 
The Lady Bears continued the trend of first-half shutouts, their third in as many tries. The offensive goal total on the year stayed at one.
 
After an extensive weather delay, second frame action took place with both teams having a single shot in the first ten minutes. In the 59^th minute, two separate yellow cards were issued, one against Ariana Mandelka of TMU and the other against Rebecca Laface of Southeastern.
 
In the 62^nd minute, after four shot attempts by the home team, Laface got her redemption, converting a corner shot in the net to give Southeastern the 1-0 advantage.
 
Truett forced three shots in the next ten minutes, one each by Hodson, Agathe Braud and Salome Deneubourg, but none found the back of the net. The Fire forced pressure with four shots from minute 70:00 through 80:00, but the margin remained just a single goal.
 
After a shot by Isabelle Allen was saved, a trip by the Fire in front of the net brought up a yellow card on Olivia Thomassy and the penalty shot. Hodson converted on the opportunity and tied the match at 1-1.
 
Late pressure by the Fire forced the concept of a late game-winning goal with three shots, but two were blocked while the other sailed wide right. Time expired and both teams settled for the draw.
 
Hodson, along with her goal, put forward four total shots on the day with two being on target. Joanna Funes also produced multiple shots with three on the day. Del Rio saved four shots on five attempts.
 
The Lady Bears will take on Appalachian Athletic Conference play on Sept. 12 when they travel to Montreat, N.C. to take on Montreat at 1 p.m.