Lebanon, TN - Naira Lopez scored the game-winning goal 22 seconds into the first overtime to give the (RV) Patriots women's soccer team the 2-1 win against the 19^th-ranked Cumberland Phoenix Sunday afternoon at Lindsey Donnell Stadium. The victory is Cumberlands second straight win over an NAIA ranked opponent and improves UC's record to 10-1-1 on the season and a perfect 5-0 in conference play.

The Patriots offense came out with fire, recording four shots from four different players. Alba Lorca, Anihoa Camara, Laura Navajas Marin, and Lopez all attempted to put UC on the board in the first 15 minutes of the contest. Although unable to convert any of the shots to goals, the UC defense held strong, holding the Tigers to only a trio of shots after thirty minutes of play. In the 32', the Phoenix struck first taking advantage of a corner kick opportunity to go up 1-0. The Patriots saw their best scoring opportunity of the half in the 39' as Lopez sent a shot that hit the crossbar, keeping the Patriots scoreless. As time dwindled down, the Patriots saw three corner kick opportunities but were unable to capitalize on any of them, as the Phoenix took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
 
As the second half got underway, the UC offense looked to even the score as Shara Randez found Lorca downfield, who then dribbled past the defense and sent a chip shot over the goalie for the equalizer with 41:02 remaining. The Phoenix attack fought back but Nicole Panis kept the Patriots in the game, saving back-to-back shots from Cumberland forwards' Marie Bathe and Carla Hager in the 63'. Randez found herself open for a pair of shots, however, both were stopped by Michaela Hawthorn with 12:51 remaining in regulation. Cumberlands offense remained relentless but were unable to convert their finals shots sending the match went to overtime, tied at 1-1.

The Patriots only needed 22 seconds to score in overtime as Navajas played the ball upfield to Lopez, who sent a shot past the goalie and into the net giving UC the golden goal and the victory over the Phoenix 2-1.

Lopez has now scored in three straight games and records the first game-winning goal of her career, while Lorca has netted a goal in back-to-back games. The win is also the Patriots first win over the  Phoenix since August 28, 2010 ending a nine-year drought.
 
UC returns to action Saturday, October 26, when they take on the fifth-ranked Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders in Columbia, KY for their sixth conference matchup. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm. Live video will be available here,  while live stats will be available here.

For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter - @UC_Patriots & @UCPatsGameday, Instagram - @UCPatriots, YouTube – CumberlandsPatriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.