Embry-Riddle earned a hard-fought 1–1 draw on the road against OUAZ on Thursday evening at Spirit Field, opening conference play with a resilient performance.

The Eagles (1-2-2, 0-0-1) found themselves trailing early after OUAZ's Jesus Castillo netted the opener in the 10th minute. Despite the early setback, Embry-Riddle responded with composure and intensity, equalizing in the 31st minute through forward Nitai Bental, who slotted home his fourth goal of the season off a well-placed assist from Lucas Thompson.

Embry-Riddle controlled much of the first half, outshooting the Spirit 6–1 and earning two corner kicks. The Eagles maintained their attacking pressure throughout the match, finishing with a 12–7 advantage in shots and 4–2 edge in corner kicks.

Goalkeeper Alex Bissett stood tall between the posts, recording four saves, including key stops in the second half to preserve the draw. His efforts were crucial as OUAZ ramped up their offensive pressure after the break.

Despite several late opportunities, including shots from  Aleksandar Mihajlovic and Cesar Battistini, the Eagles couldn't find the winner. OUAZ goalkeeper Jonathan Garcia made five saves to keep the hosts level.

Embry-Riddle will play Arizona Christian on Saturday at 11:30am in Glendale.