Durham, N.C. -- Madison Mark scored the golden goal in the second overtime period to propel University of Lynchburg's field hockey team to a season-opening 4-3 win over NCAA Division II  Mount Olive Thursday evening at Duke University's Williams Field.

Mark became the fourth Hornet to score on the day, collecting a rebound off a blocked shot and finding the back of the cage in the 71st minute to send Lynchburg home victorious.

Emily Yanes, Sydney Rowe, and Brittany Claybaugh also scored goals for the Hornets, Kessa Romero made two assists, and Kayla Brady made 11 saves, including two in the sudden-victory overtime, to keep Lynchburg in the game.

Mount Olive opened the scoring after earning a penalty corner in the fourth minute of play, but the Trojans didn't lead long. Yanes tracked down a through-ball from Romero just 59 seconds later and clunked the plywood, tying the score, 1-1. The Trojans scored again in the second and held that 2-1 advantage into halftime.

Rowe evened the tally in the third, finding space in the arc and batting it into the cage for the freshman's first-career goal.

Fewer than 2 minutes later, UMO retook the lead after another corner. (The Trojans held a 9-6 advantage in penalty corners.)

Lynchburg tied it up again early in the fourth after earning a corner of its own. Claybaugh's injection went to Aaryn Boatwright, who played the ball toward the goal. The defense deflected the pass, and a diving Claybaugh knocked it past the goalkeeper.

The Trojans tested the Lynchburg defense in the first overtime, registering three shots (two of which Brady saved) in the first 10-minute bonus period. The Hornets held, however, and wasted no time when the field flipped for the second OT. Lynchburg quickly got the ball into the UMO arc, and Mark's goal brought the contest to an abrupt end.

The Hornets (1-0) will make their home debut Saturday at 11:30 a.m. against Lebanon Valley on Shellenberger Field.

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--LYN--