ERIE, Pa. – A pair of freshmen showed why the Gannon University women's soccer team's present and future both appear to be bright.

GU forward Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane) scored to tie the game, and defender Hannah Shepard (Erie, Pa./Mcdowell) scored on a long free kick to temporarily give the Gannon the lead before the Golden Knights settled for a 2-2 tie with Concord University at McConnell Family Stadium.

The game was the season opener for head coach Colin Petersen's Knights, and it was the second of two  games between PSAC and Mountain East Conference teams in the Gannon Invitational at the stadium on Thursday. In the first game, Kutztown University of the PSAC tied MEC member University of Charleston 1-1.

Those four teams will play again Saturday at McConnell Family Stadium. In the first game, Kutztown will meet Charleston at 3 p.m. followed by Gannon against Charleston at 6 p.m.

Gannon opened the 2022 season against Concord in West Virginia, and the Mountain Lions emerged with a 3-2 win in that game.

This year, both teams were preseason favorites in their conference divisions, Gannon in PSAC West and Concord in the MEC West.

Concord controlled the pace early and struck for a goal just 7:13 into the game as Michelle Brogden scored on a nice centering pass from Olivia Bekeleski. The Mountain Lions took that 1-0 lead into halftime.

Gannon finally scored 21:19 into the second half when Respecki showed the skills that allowed her to score 167 goals in her high school career at General McLane High School.

Respecki took a pass from Sammie Dales (Conneautville, Pa./Homeschool) on the left side, dribbled through and around three Concord defenders. She then launched a right-footed shot across the goal and into the right side of the net to tie the score at 1-1.

Respecki led Gannon with six shots in the game, including three on goal as Gannon outshot Concord 19-7, including a 10-4 edge on goal.

With 8 minutes left in the game, Shepard scored her first career collegiate goal. The freshman from McDowell High School lined up for a free kick on the left side 42 yards from the goal. She booted a line drive toward the middle of the pack of players, and a Concord player headed the ball, deflecting it into the right side of the goal.

Gannon's 2-1 lead did not last long. Just 45 seconds later, Concord scored on a breakaway as Nora Voisey made a run down the right side, centered the pass to Sydney Tucker, who put the shot away.

The game remained 2-2 the rest of the way.

Morgan Sinan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) played all 90 minutes in goal for Gannon and made two saves, including a brilliant stop as a Concord player broke loose near the goal on a free kick.

Shepard, Jamie Seneca (Plum, Pa./Plum), and Ella Fedale each attempted three shots for GU.