MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's soccer team went down to the wire with another nonconference opponent Sunday, battling Blackburn to a 2-2 draw at home on Youth Day.
 
Gaurab Khadka and Aidan Lerch both notched goals for the Rams (1-2-3), who controlled most of the contest while holding a decisive 25-6 advantage in total shots.
 
Lerch scored in his third consecutive match, finding the back of the net with an unassisted shot that pushed the Rams ahead 2-1 at the 56-minute mark. It was Lerch's team-high fifth goal in six days.
 
Blackburn (0-2-1) struck back with a goal in the 75th minute to even the score at 2-2, which stood at the end of regulation.
 
Five of Cornell's six matches have now been decided by one goal or less, including three ties.
 
The Beavers and Rams traded a pair of goals during a three-minute stretch in the first half. Khadka netted his third goal of the season on an assist from Sam Burmeister that tied it at 1-1.
 
Floris Huiskers went the distance at keeper for the Rams and recorded three saves.
 
Lerch accounted for seven of Cornell's shot attempts, five of them on goal. Fox Wight attempted four shots, two on goal.  
 
Coming up – The Rams travel to play Simpson (2-2) for a 7:15 p.m. match under the lights Wednesday in Indianola.