MEMPHIS - Down 2-0 with 20 minutes to go in the game, the Rhodes College field hockey team got a pair of goal from junior Christina DiFelice and the game winning goal from senior Alex Friedman in double overtime to knock off the Centre College Colonels, 3-2, and win the 2015 Southern Athletic Association Championship.

Rhodes moves to 15-5 overall after finished the conference season 7-1 and winning a share of conference regular season title with the Colonels. Centre goes to 10-6 overall.

The first half was dominated by the Lynx as they out shot Centre, 9-2, including an 8-2 advantage in penalty corners. However, Rhodes could not get the first goal of the game as the tough Colonel defense was able to blank them in the half.

In the second half, Centre opened the game up as Julie Gates scored a pair of goals midway through the second half to put the Colonels up 2-0. Rhodes took a quick timeout after the second goal to regroup and try to get back into the match with 20 minutes remaining in the game.

With under 13 minutes remaining, senior Julie Hertzman sent a beautiful pass to DiFelice, who scored to cut the deficit in half and put all the pressure on the Centre side. 

Six minutes later, DiFelice struck again, this time making a beautiful run through the Colonel defense to score her 18th goal of the season. Her 18 goals set a new single season record in goals scored, breaking the mark of 17 set by Lee Thomas in 2000. DiFelice is also the new single season holder for points in a season at 46 and is is second in assists in a single season at 10. 

The Lynx had a few more chances towards the end of the game, creating some opportunities in front of goal; however, Centre was able to hold off the Rhodes attack and push the game into overtime. 

Both teams had chance in the first overtime with Laura Eckelkamp of Rhodes and Kirby Roberts of Centre each coming up with huge stops in the extra period to keep the game knotted at two. 

Five minutes into the second overtime, senior Mary Rose Hazel found Friedman in the box, who shot it past Roberts to send the crowd into a frenzy and give the Lynx their eighth conference title and third SAA title in the last four years.

DiFelice and senior Evy Royther led the offensive attack with five shots while junior Mackenzie Busby added four shots. Defensively, the Lynx got a terrific effort from senior Katie Johnson, senior Jordan Kugler, junior Kennedy Brislin, as well as Hazel, especially in the overtime period when Centre looked to find the game-winning goal. Eckelkamp would finished with five saves in the contest.

After the game, Johnson was named to the All-Tournament Team as well as DiFelice, who was also named Most Valuable Player for the tournament. 

Rhodes does not get an automatic qualifiers into the NCAA Tournament, but do have a chance to earn their way into the national tournament via an At-Large bid. The Lynx will await the committee's decision as the Division III Field Hockey Championship information should be released later today. Check rhodeslynx.com and @RhodesAthletics on Twitter for the latest information.