The UNBC Timberwolves Men (0-3-4) battled back from a deficit Friday afternoon en route to a hard-fought 2-2 draw with the MacEwan Griffins (0-6-1). Pipeijn van der Ende and Kaiden Young each supplied late goals in the second half for UNBC while goalkeeper Callum Cuthbert finished the day with five saves – many of which were top quality.

The Timberwolves came out with plenty of offensive intent, generating a pair of early chances in the opening six minutes.

In the fourth minute, Luis Beck sent a dangerous ball into the box for James Jordan, who chipped his effort just over the crossbar from in close. Two minutes later, Mehdi Bounaaja tested MacEwan goalkeeper Kaleb Lutz with a shot on target, but Lutz turned the attempt aside.

UNBC continued to apply pressure in the opening stages, earning a free kick in the ninth minute after MacEwan's Ali Yildiz was assessed a yellow card for a rough tackle on Beck. Hagon Kim delivered a dangerous ball into the box from the right wing, but the Timberwolves were unable to get a shot on target.

MacEwan gradually found its footing, and Callum Cuthbert was called into action for the first time in the 20th minute, making a save on a long-range effort from Sacre Musa.

The Griffins would open the scoring two minutes later.

After MacEwan won the ball in midfield, a quick passing sequence down the right side created an opportunity in front for Felix Guite. The Griffins forward made no mistake from close range, sliding a low shot past a diving Cuthbert to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage.

Cuthbert came up with a massive stop moments later, denying Macky Mahfouz on a point-blank opportunity to keep the Timberwolves within one.

MacEwan carried its 1-0 lead into halftime while holding a 5-2 advantage in shots on target.

The Griffins nearly doubled their lead in the 64th minute when Yildiz found an opening, but his effort was denied.

That save proved important, as UNBC's comeback began to take shape moments later.

In the 65th minute, Kaiden Young came agonizingly close to finding the equalizer. The second-year midfielder had two excellent looks at the MacEwan goal, with Lutz denying his first effort before Young's follow-up attempt struck the post.

Young's persistence would eventually pay off.

In the 75th minute, MacEwan's Benjamin Thiel was assessed a yellow card following a foul in the box, awarding the Timberwolves a penalty kick. Fifth-year defender Pipeijn van der Ende stepped to the spot and calmly buried a low shot into the right corner to draw UNBC level at 1-1.

Just four minutes later, the Timberwolves completed the comeback.

Luke Graham found Young, who used his speed to create separation from the MacEwan defence before neatly chipping the ball over Lutz. Young's effort had just enough room along the side of the goal to sneak across the line, giving UNBC a 2-1 lead in the 79th minute.

The advantage, however, would prove short-lived.

MacEwan responded in the 82nd minute when Adam Dasouki fired a long-range effort through traffic that found its way past Cuthbert, tying the match at 2-2.

The Griffins nearly completed the comeback themselves in the dying moments of stoppage time, but Cuthbert came up with one final crucial save. The UNBC goalkeeper stood tall in a one-on-one situation against Yildiz, denying the MacEwan attacker and ensuring the Timberwolves would leave Edmonton with at least one point.

UNBC now turns its attention to Sunday, when the Timberwolves visit the Lethbridge Pronghorns. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM PT.