FERRUM, Virginia -- Willow Cooper's unassisted goal in overtime gave Ferrum College a 19-18 non-conference women's lacrosse win over Montreat College this afternoon at W.B. Adams Stadium. Cooper would close the game with seven goals and a pair of assists to help the Panthers win their season opener.

RECORDS
Ferrum (1-0)
Montreat (0-2)

THE BASICS
Ferrum raced out to a 3-0 lead early in the game on a goal by Sydney Kincaid and two by Erin Reynolds in the first six and a half minutes of play. Aleea Bone scored for Montreat, then Ferrum's Victoria Tyler notched a goal at 4:05 to make it a 4-1 game. The Cavaliers added a pair of goals and it was 4-3 Ferrum after one.

Kate Gauntlett opened the second quarter with a goal for Montreat to tie the game at 4-4. Ferrum responded with a 6-0 run to make it 10-4 on two goals each by Cooper and \Reynolds, and one each by Tyler and Reagan Aldridge. Cooper and Bianca Cellitto added a goal each before the end of the second quarter and the Panthers owned a 12-6 lead at the break,

Montreat trimmed the lead to 15-12 by the end of the third quarter, then picked up three quick goals in the fourth to tie the game at 15-15. Cooper scored at 7:33 to put Ferrum back on top 16-15, only to see Izzy Knight score her fourth goal of the game at 4:49 to make it 16-16. Cooper found the back of the net at 3:23 for a 17-16 Panther lead.

Gauntlett and Dovey Yates each had a goal for the Cavaliers over the next three minutes, Dovey's goal with 10 seconds left to play and putting Montreat on top 18-17. Cooper controlled the ensuing draw control, raced toward the goal and made a picture perfect pass to Aldridge, who ripped a shot past Montreat goalkeeper Kierra Stephens with just four tenths of a second left in regulation to tie the game at 18-18 and send it into overtime.

In the overtime, Cooper took the ball from behind the net, rolled to her right, curled in front of the net and then as she was knocked to the ground, ripped a shot past Stephens at the 2:11 mark for her seventh goal of the day and the win.

KEY STATS
Ferrum: Cooper 7 goals, 3 asst; Reynolds 4 goals, 2 asst; GK Amanda Thomas (W, 1-0) 16:47, 1 save; GK Faith Chubbuck 47:02, 5 saves
Montreat: Gauntlett 4 goals, 5 asst; GK Stephens (L, 0-2) 63:49, 4 saves

BEHIND THE WHISTLE
"Today was an exciting and intense opening game. Both teams fought hard. I am so proud of our team for overcoming adversity and not giving up." --Head Coach Karen Harvey

NEXT UP
Harvey's team will play next on Wednesday, March 1, at home against Washington and Lee University. The ODAC game is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start.