Coastal Carolina's Mary Jo Hajek scored her second goal of the game 11 seconds into the second overtime period to lead the Chants to a thrilling, come-from-behind 3-2 win over High Point in Big South women's soccer action Wednesday night.
The Panthers (2-7-1, 0-2-1 Big South) carried a 2-1 lead into the final minute of regulation, but couldn't close the door.
An incredible shot by Coastal's Jill DeLano off a free kick from 35 yards out in the 90th minute sailed over the head of HPU keeper Courtney Noel and into the net to send the game to overtime.
Neither team could manage a score in the first overtime, although each had a serious chance. Coastal's came in the 91st minute when Hajek had an open net on a diagonal shot and pushed it wide, and HPU threatened in the 95th minute when Jen Evans crushed a shot inside the box off the crossbar.
On the play that decided the game, the Chants (5-4-2, 2-2) kicked a long ball into the box, where Hajek corraled a loose ball that deflected off the head of an HPU defender. She knocked it past Noel for the deciding score.
Hajek began the scoring in the 14th minute when she picked up a loose ball in front of the net and scored. High Point countered in the 35th minute on the first of two goals by Emily Lanham off an assist by Wendy Williams. The game went to halftime knotted at 1-1.
The Panthers took the lead in the 78th minute when Lanham took a pass from Evans and beat CCU keeper Candice Doten from just outside the 18-yard box. DeLano's goal sent the game to overtime 36 seconds before the buzzer.
Both teams return to action on Saturday. Coastal faces Birmingham-Southern, while HPU travels to Radford for a 2:00 pm kickoff.