CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.—A high scoring second half saw Villanova edge JMU in overtime on Sunday afternoon. Star forward Meghan Mitchell scored the game winner for the 'Cats.

After taking a 1-0 lead into the halftime break the Dukes doubled their lead early in the third quarter. The Wildcats got on the board thanks to Mitchell before the Dukes again went up two with eight minutes remaining in the period. The 'Cats responded thanks to goals from Emma Schwarz and Gemma Lysaght.  JMU once again took the lead with 10 minutes remaining before Amanda Middleman leveled the score five minutes later.

Hannah Barsky saved the game for the Wildcats in the final seconds of regulation. The 5^th year back picked up her second defensive save of the season by laying out to stop the ball from hitting the back of the net with eight seconds remaining. In overtime, Anne Drabbe found Amanda Middleman who squared it for Mitchell who netted the game winning goal.

Freshman Gemma Lysaght admired the game saving play by Barsky and appreciates her leadership.

"It felt amazing," Said Lysaght, who scored her first career goal in the third quarter. "I was really honored to be able to tie the game for us. Hannah's save was absolutely amazing. That could have easily been a goal, but she stepped up at the right moment and took complete control of the situation. She is such an amazing leader and I look up to her so much."

Assistant coach Corey Mayer was very thrilled to pick up the win. Mayer played at JMU from 2014-18 and earned First Team All-CAA honors her senior season. After graduating, she spent one season with the Dukes as a volunteer assistant coach in the spring 2021 season.

"This is going to be a weekend I will remember for the rest of my life, starting with Joanie's 250^th win over UConn and then beating my alma mater," said Mayer. "Obviously, I'm proud of where I came from but everything I do is to put this program on the map, to not just be a top 20 program and go to the BIG EAST tournament but to win the BIG EAST tournament. I am extremely proud of this group for coming from behind and playing in OT after such a hard-fought game on Friday. Just because we are down doesn't mean we are going to stop fighting and we're going to work for everything."

The Dukes were led by Tori Carawan with two goals and an assist. Goalkeeper Brandelynn Heinbaugh was credited with four saves in the loss.

Meghan Mitchell's multi goal performance is the eighth of her career. She also became the fifth Wildcat ever to achieve 100 career points in the win.

The Wildcats return to action on Friday, October 6^th when they travel to Lynchburg, Va. to take on the Liberty Flames with sole possession of first place in the BIG EAST on the line.