Castleton, V.T.- Daniel Medina scored just before halftime as the Clarkson University Men's Soccer team battled to a 1-1 tie with VTSU Castleton, Saturday afternoon. 

Clarkson's second game in two days moves the team to 2-0-1, Castleton was handed its first tie of the season, moving to 2-0-1 as well on the 2024 campaign. 

The Spartans opened the deadlock with their first shot on goal courtesy of a set-piece routine. A foul on Clarkson just outside the 18 yard box put the Knights under pressure as Matt Spiller curled in a right footed ball towards the back post where Tanner Curtis forced it into the back of the net. 

Clarkson looked to answer quickly as the Knights offense generated three shots and a corner over the next ten minutes. The steady pressure from Clarkson stifled any chance of the Spartans building on the lead as the hosts were able to record only one more shot throughout the first half. This pressure led to a breakthrough for the Knights just before halftime. Picking up the pieces of a cleared corner, Daniel Medina found himself on the right wing and after a blocked cross, gained control of the ball and fired a left-footed shot, through traffic, into the bottom corner of the Castleton net, tying the game at 1-1 in the 40th minute. 

Medina came close to notching his second tally of the contest and putting Clarkson ahead, early in the second half. A free kick from just over half field led to a deflected pass falling at Medina's feet at the top of the 18 yard box but the ensuing shot dribbled through traffic into the arms of the Spartan keeper. Much of the second half was tightly contested as neither team was willing to give up much ground settling for a draw at the end of the 90 minutes. 

Clarkson had the lead in shots (11-5), with eight of those coming in the first half, while also leading in shots on goal (5-2) and corners (4-3). Carter Kladstrup was credited with one save for the Knights while Xander Berthiaume stopped three for the Spartans.

The Golden Knights feature in action again, Wednesday, September 11th, as they host Plattsburgh State at Hantz Field.