DES MOINES, Iowa - The 30th-ranked Ashford University (9-0-2, 1-0-2 MCC) men's soccer team took defending Midwest Collegiate Conference champion Grand View University to the brink in overtime for a 2-2 draw on Saturday evening.

The Saints' bid to spoil homecoming weekend for the Vikings was halted when a potential game-winning goal with about three minutes left in overtime was called back because of an offsides call.

After tying Mt. Mercy College, 0-0, in a double-overtime draw earlier in the year, Ashford now sits a half game back of first in the league standings with Iowa Wesleyan College and Clarke College.

"The good thing is we didn't lose to Grand View (University) for the first time in about nine tries, but it's a hard one to swallow," AU Head Coach Richard Markham said. "We have to get over it and focus on the games ahead. Anything can happen, but we've got to take care of our games."

On separate occasions, Ashford had to battle back down one goal.

AU sophomore midfielder Kori Phillips of Pittsburgh, Pa., scored his first goal of the year in the 39th minute to tie the match at one.

Phillips then fed senior Eddie Garza of Rockford, Ill., for his team-leading sixth goal of the season, tying the match in just a three-minute span after Grand View took a 2-1 lead.

"Kori scored, Ved (Ilic) led him around and he hit a laserbeam past the keeper," Markham said. "Kori set up the second one and threaded a ball through the top of the box. It was a great game by him."

Next on the schedule is a home tilt against St. Ambrose University on Tuesday at 2 p.m.