RADFORD, Va. – Sophomore Niamh Connolly (Fredericksburg, Va.) capped off a late comeback, scoring 5:17 into overtime giving Radford a thrilling 2-1 victory over Longwood in the Highlanders' NorPac opener. For Connolly, it was her first goal of the season.

Box Score

Connolly's former Chancellor High School teammate Lara Cariker (Fredericksburg, Va.) helped send the match into overtime, converting a penalty stroke with 2:04 left in regulation. It was Cariker's (pictured right) third goal of the season.

On the game winner, sophomore Madonna Wadolowski (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahon) crossed the ball on a baseline run. After the ball deflected off Longwood's keeper, sophomore Courtney Poole (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) pushed the loose ball to Connolly, who one-timed it into the open cage.

The Highlanders (4-6, 1-0 NorPac) dominated statistically out shooting the Lancers (3-6, 1-1 NorPac) 13-4 and holding a 14-2 advantage in corners.

Lauren van de Kamp scored the first goal of the match, giving Longwood a 1-0 in the 26th minute. She knocked in a deflection off a Radford defender.

The Highlanders had several opportunities to score in the first half, earning nine corners, but only generated four shots off of those.

Radford pressured offensively for a majority of the second half. Two early opportunities by Cariker, on a corner, and Poole on the run, were stopped by Longwood's Erin Bollinger.

Bollinger finished with seven saves.

In the 56th minute, Wadolowski and junior Becca Devlin (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary's) two-on-one was stuffed by Bollinger.

Just minutes after Bollinger stopped a point blank shot, Raford was awarded a penalty stroke with 2:04 left in regulation. Cariker stepped up and ripped into the left side of the cage, scoring the equalizer.

Radford hits the road tomorrow, Oct. 4 for a non-conference match against NorPac newcomer UC Davis at noon. The contest will be played at Davidson's Belk Turf Field.