HOLMDEL, N.J. — New Jersey Copa FC took the lead, but wound up settling for a 1-1 draw with the New York Surf in a United Women’s Soccer game at Saint John Vianney High School Sunday.

New Jersey Copa FC forward Krystyna Freda, the 2016 player of the year, put the defending Eastern Conference champions up in the 21st minute and NJCFC outshot the visitors, 21-9, but a set piece in the 55th minute evened the match.

NJCFC (4-1-1) drew for the first time this season and with 13 points is tied atop the Eastern Conference with the Long Island Rough Riders, the only team to defeat Copa this year. The Surf (3-1-2) remained within striking distance in the conference.

“I think we were unfortunate to give up the tying goal on a set piece today,” New Jersey Copa FC head coach Roberto Aguas said. “We created a number of chances which we just missed in converting and that inevitably left us vulnerable for this end result. We’ll learn from today and now focus on the two matches next weekend, including a rematch against the team that gave us our only loss this season. A win in that game would tie us for first in the Eastern Conference. We are just where we want to be.”

Defender Alana O’Neill was named the woman of the match after playing 90 minutes in the back and limiting the Surf to four shots in the second half. NJCFC outshot New York, 14-4, in that half.

Goalkeeper Kristyn Shea made four saves and also sprinted out of her box to clear a breakaway opportunity in the 15th minute. Colleen Hickey made five saves for the Surf.

Freda, playing her fourth game of the season, tallied her fifth goal when her shot from the far right wing late in the 21st minute settled into the near side netting.

But the Surf, off back-to-back corner kicks by Totianyu Guadalupe, equalizedin the late 55th minute. Furtuna Velaj received it and sent a ball across the six where Flo Gamby was positioned to put away her second goal this season.

Copa had chances to regain the lead but couldn’t capitalize. Jackie Bruno’s shot late in the 63rd minute was tipped just wide of the near post on a dive by Hickey. In the 67th minute, Christina Rodgers hit the crossbar from distance and Rebecca Raber’s look at the rebound missed right. Rodgers had another good look in the 69th minute before Hickey thwarted the chance. She stopped Rodgers again in the 83rd minute.

NJCFC plays twice next weekend. First, New Jersey Copa heads to Brooklyn Saturday (3 p.m.) against the New York Magic before returning to Holmdel for a rematch with the Rough Riders on Sunday at 7 p.m. with the conference regular season title potentially at stake.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.