Staff photo by Steve Muscatello University of Minnesota Morris defender John Hoff (6) tries to get out of the way as Joshua Higgins of Martin Luther College (9) kicks the ball during the first half Tueday at the MLC soccer complex in New Ulm.

NEW ULM — Almost.

That’s the word that best describes Martin Luther College’s near victory against Upper Midwest Athletic Conference rival University of Minnesota-Morris on Tuesday. Instead the Knights settled for a 2-2 tie.

Up 2-1 with less than 3 minutes left, UM-Morris’ Gabe Arreguin was able to pick up a ball that was mishandled by MLC keeper Gabe Plocher. Arreguin found the loose ball and sent it to the back of the net, forcing a tie. The teams were unable to get any extra offense going in the two overtime sessions for the 2-2 draw.

After a scoreless first half, Aaron Swanson scored MLC’s first goal off an assist from Joel Koelpin in the 54th minute. The Cougars tied the game on Corbin McCall’s goal 4 minutes later, but MLC’s Joe Graumann broke the tie in the 65th minute.

Plocher had nine saves for the Knights (2-3-2).