SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 15 Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team will wonder how it was kept off the scoreboard after a double-overtime, 0-0 tie against Eastern Oregon in both teams' season opener on Sunday afternoon at Mangrum Soccer Field.

The Cougars (0-0-1) outshot the Mountaineers (0-0-1) 21-2, hit the crossbar twice and could not find the finishing touch on a number of breakaway opportunities in their first game under first-year head coach Bobby Renneisen.

"The one missing piece was the goal," said Renneisen. "That's the name of the game, there's only one stat that counts. When you squander some chances, it gets harder and harder, and the pressure mounts. We did well enough to win the game, but we just didn't score the goal."

CSUSM wasn't without its opportunities.

Amy Alber was dangerous down the left flank early on, and her bender after cutting back to her right missed the top-right corner by six inches.

The Cougars received a lift from substitutes Shantae Elam and Kelly Skvarna, two powerful forwards who caused fits for the Mountaineer back line. Skvarna and Elam combined for a nice one-two combination that freed Skvarna in on net, but her shot to the front post missed right.

After outshooting EOU 11-1 in the opening frame, it seemed to be a matter of time before CSUSM would find its score.

However, goalkeeper Jessica Parker did her part for EOU, stonewalling Megan Pfrunder's one-on-one opportunity in the 55^th minute after Pfrunder was freed at the half line via a through ball from Paulina Good. Amy Young was denied by Parker in a one-on-one situation less than three minutes later.

Natalie Lara got into the mix, creatively dribbling around the right side before playing a ball across the six. Pfrunder beat her defender to the front post and slid to meet the pass, but her flick banged off the crossbar to keep things scoreless.

The dry heat of August in San Marcos began to take its toll on both teams, as the squads pinged the ball back and forth in the middle-third of the pitch through much of the second half. The Cougars' had one more opportunity minutes before the end of regulation, as Brianne Searl played a long ball over the top on a free kick from her own half. Young rose to meet it at the back post, but her header clanged off the EOU-friendly crossbar.

Parker made two more saves in the second overtime on a pair of shots by Monica Aguilera, the only shots on-frame by either team in extra time.

CSUSM keeper Amanda Sears was forced to make just one save in the 18^th minute on a shot from Katherine Hood. All-in-all, It was a tidy performance by the CSUSM back line comprised of Searl, Nicole Luna, Brooke Carter and Courtney McLeish.

"The finishing piece was the most glaring thing that we need to work on. If we get tougher, fitter and faster, and be able to play at a higher clip for the duration of the entire ninety minutes, we'll be fine," said Renneisen.

The Cougars have nearly two weeks without competition before their road tilt at NCAA Division II's Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 4:30 p.m.

CSUSM's next home game will take place on Monday, Sept. 8 against Southern Oregon at 3:00 p.m. On Friday of the same week, the Cougars face The Master's College a rematch of last season's NAIA Opening Round – a 1-0 Cougar victory.