NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Playing with 10 men and trailing by a goal in the second half, the College of Southern Nevada found an answer.
Justin Gilliland scored the equalizer in the 69th minute as the Coyotes battled Gillette College to a 2-2 draw Friday at Cheyenne Sports Complex. The result moved Southern Nevada to 1-4-1 on the season.
Gillette (2-1-2) opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Fabian Rosales found the net to give the Pronghorns a 1-0 advantage.
CSN responded eight minutes later. Javier Montes converted a penalty kick at 28:48, pulling the Coyotes even at 1-1. The score remained tied through halftime despite Southern Nevada holding a 6-5 edge in first-half shots.
Gillette regained the lead early in the second half when Oscar Valtierra converted a penalty kick in the 55th minute, putting the Pronghorns back in front, 2-1.
The challenge grew for Southern Nevada in the 64th minute when Matias Martinez was sent off with a red card, forcing the Coyotes to play the remainder of the match with 10 men.
Rather than allowing Gillette to take control, CSN responded.
Alejandro Marquez set up Gilliland at 68:38, and the sophomore forward delivered the tying goal to make it 2-2. It was Gilliland's second goal in as many days after scoring against Central Wyoming College on Thursday.
The Coyotes continued to push despite the disadvantage. Gilliland put another attempt on frame in the 79th minute that was stopped by Gillette goalkeeper Jimmy Griffiths, while Southern Nevada generated two more shots in the final two minutes.
Gillette was reduced to 10 players following a red card to Ryan Nicholas in the 89th minute, but neither side could produce a late winner.
The match was closely contested statistically. Gillette finished with a 16-14 advantage in shots and a 6-5 edge in shots on goal, while Southern Nevada generated six corner kicks to Gillette's three. CSN goalkeeper Diego Mendez made four saves in the draw.
Gilliland and Montes accounted for Southern Nevada's two goals, with Marquez recording the assist on the second-half equalizer. Gilliland led the Coyotes with three shots and two on goal, while Montes added three shots.
After falling 4-3 to Central Wyoming a day earlier, the Coyotes closed the two-match homestand by earning a point and showing resilience when faced with a second-half deficit and playing a man down.
