Lynchburg, Va. -- Brittany Claybaugh picked up a stray rebound in the seventh minute of overtime and shoveled the ball into the cage to send the 19th-ranked University of Lynchburg field hockey team past No. 18 Centre Saturday afternoon at the Liberty University Field Hockey Complex.

Claybaugh's goal marked the second Hornets overtime victory over a ranked opponent on the LU Astroturf in as many weeks.

Lynchburg opened the game with a chance in the sixth minute, but Emily Dudley's shot was saved, and Centre countered to earn the first of its two first-quarter penalty corners, both of which were snuffed out by the Hornets defense.

Neither team mustered any offense in the second quarter either, as Hornet goalie Kayla Brady saved the lone shot-on-goal in the period. The teams headed into halftime knotted in a scoreless tie.

After some intermission adjustments, Lynchburg took control in the third, holding the Colonels without a shot while managing three of their own. The third shot was the charm for Lynchburg, and the Hornets took the lead on an Aaryn Boatwright goal in the 43rd minute, assisted by Emma Strouse.

Shortly after the quarter break, in the 49th minute, the Hornet defense committed a miscue that resulted in a Colonels goal by Ellie Dunham, tying the score, 1-1.

The two teams played through the remainder of the fourth in scoreless fashion and into the overtime period for the second consecutive contest.

The Hornets controlled OT, earning five penalty corners and taking five shots before Claybaugh sank the game-winner. On the fifth corner, Boatwright wound up with the ball and took a shot, which Centre goalie Carlie McKenry saved, but Claybaugh got the loose ball and caged the game-winner.

The golden goal moved Lynchburg to 11-1 all-time on the Liberty turf, and it marked the second-straight OT victory for the Hornets, who downed No. 13 Ursinus last Friday in a similar manner.

Lynchburg (3-3) will now set its sights on Old Dominion Athletic Conference play and a fourth consecutive league title. That defense will begin Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at Roanoke College.

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--LYN--