Wednesday night’s Western League bout between Mission Bay and Scripps Ranch felt like a must-win for both squads.

A win for Scripps Ranch would put the team in sole possession of second place, just one game back of first-place Cathedral Catholic.

Mission Bay was looking for its first league win of the year.

Ultimately, neither team would leave with the win they so wanted. The teams played to a 1-1 tie at Scripps Ranch High School.

“It was a very tough match today,” said Mission Bay coach Joe Panian, “It’s frustrating to walk away with a tie, but I applaud the boys’ effort and what they did in the first half.”

Quality looks were difficult to come by for both teams. The teams combined for just one shot on goal in the game’s first 20 minutes.

The opportunities for both teams started to appear in the following minutes. In the 26th minute, Scripps Ranch’s Sebastian Newcomb sailed a shot just over the top crossbar from eight yards out.

Mission Bay would put shots on frame in the 27th and the 36th minutes. In the 40th minute, Evan Vaden buried a header into the top left corner of the net off an excellent ball from Lucas Petersen, handing Mission Bay a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

“I felt like we controlled the tempo for the whole first half,” said Panian. “The goal was a reward at the end. It was an excellent cross from Lucas, our outside back, and a great finish by Evan, making that run at the near post and flicking it into the goal. It was beautiful.”

The Buccaneers found themselves on their heels for much of the second half, with Scripps Ranch consistently working the ball into dangerous spots in the attacking third, which included shots on goal in the 56th and 62nd minutes.

The Falcons’ wave of pressure located a crack in the Mission Bay back line. In the 68th minute, Scripps Ranch found the equalizer thanks to a fantastic finish into the bottom left corner from 17 yards out by Maximilian Hare.

“As a defender, I don’t go up much, so when I am up, I have to take the shots that I do get. I took it, and it went into the bottom corner,” said Hare. “We felt like in the first half we didn’t play our game. We like to push forward and be out on the counter, and it worked out in the second half.”

Mission Bay created a few quality looks at goal in the game’s final minute, including a potential game-winning goal that was waved off due to an offside call.

“Even when it got really tight and late in the game, we were able to create those two chances,” Panian said. “I thought on the offsides (call), he was playing level with the player, but again, who am I to say standing from the angle that I am at?”