WILLIMANTIC, Conn. –The Eastern Connecticut State University men's soccer team failed in its quest to defeat Framingham State University for the seventh time in this seven-game series, but it managed to remain unbeaten against the Rams by scoring the 54^th minute and settling for a 1-1 non-conference tie Tuesday afternoon at Thomas Nevers Field.
 
Eastern (3-4-2) fell behind when Framingham (4-5-1) scored first with 2:32 gone in the second half, but two of the teams's first-year starters teamed less than six minutes later to produce the tying goal which stretched the Warriors' unbeaten streak against the Rams to seven (6-0-1) and handed Framingham its fifth straight loss.
 

Soon after the Rams struck first on first-year midfielder Kaio Santos Da Silva's team-leading fifth goal of the year – a low shot from the left side inside the far right post following a steal at midfield – Eastern gained the equalizer. The scoring play originated in the back off a re-start, with a crisp pass by sophomore right back Lex Edwards (Milford) to first-year midfielder Miles Deiulis (Canton) at midfield. With first-year forward Julius McNeill (East Hartford) streaking down the right side, Deiulis sent a long ball ahead of McNeill, who beat Framingham defender Lachlan Forgan and carried inside the box. McNeill sent the ball toward first-year forward Rudy MacDaniel (Stratford), who was steaming in at the top of the six-yard box but marked closely by defender Brian Penney. MacDaniel lost his footing while crashing the goal as McNeill's shot deflected off Penney and rolled past goalkeeper Joseph Sturzo -- who was stationed in the middle of the goal --  and inside the left post.
 
With the score still tied heading inside the final ten minutes, Eastern junior keeper Nathan Yeich (Willington) – who had replaced senior Dylan Pallanck (Willington) to start the second half following a scoreless first 45 minutes – made three game-saving saves. With nine minutes left, he stopped consecutive shots from close range by senior midfielder Arthur Santos Da Silva and his brother, Kaio. Then, with time winding inside two minutes, he denied sophomore forward Gustav Hemmingsen from point-blank range with a diving save to his right.
 
Seven of Framingham's 12 shots in the match were on frame, forcing Pallanck to stop three of them and Yeich four. Only three of Eastern's 15 shots were on target, but one snuck through that forged the tie.
 
With the tie, Eastern 17^th-year head coach Greg DeVito (199-84-28) was denied his 200^th career coaching win. The Warriors host the University of Hartford Friday at 4 p.m. at Nevers Field.