Attacker Kerrigan Brown picked up a loose ball and soon delivered a magical start to the season for the Hope College women's lacrosse team.

The sophomore from DeWitt, Michigan (DeWitt HS) propelled the Flying Dutch to a 15-14 overtime victory at unbeaten University of Mount Union (Ohio) on Thursday by scoring 25 seconds into overtime.

Brown scooped up the ball after Molly Frederickson's shot on goal was saved. Right of the goal from about 12 yards, Brown buried her shot into the lower left corner of the net.

Brown's fifth goal of the game — a career-high — dramatically closed a matchup of projected MIAA and Ohio Athletic Conference title containers.

Head coach Keegan Pontious said Brown was rewarded for her determined effort while she was on the field for 63 minutes.

"She played hard every chance she got," Pontious said.

It was Brown's first career game-winning goal at Hope. 

The Flying Dutch emerged victorious after a back-and-forth game that featured five lead changes during the second half alone. Each team tied the score twice after halftime.

Mount Union forced overtime by tying the score at 14-14 on Emily Nannarone's goal with 1 ½ minutes left in regulation.

Pontious was proud of how her team battled until the final whistle.

"We had a fantastic energy about us and believed in each other the whole game," Pontious said.

Freshman attacker Julia Brown (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central) finished second on the team in scoring with three goals.

Frederickson (Alto, Michigan / Lowell) and freshman midfielder Caleigh Randall (Lansing, Michigan / DeWitt) chipped in two goals apiece.

Mount Union (2-1) was led by Nannarone's four goals.

Hope's next game is Saturday, March 4, at noon at Oberlin College (Ohio).