Conway, Ark. - It was a gorgeous afternoon for the 2018 Southern Athletic Asssociation field hockey tournament championship game Sunday as the Lynx walked away from a thrilling contest against Centre 2-1 after shootouts. The win is the fifth tournament championship victory for the Lynx in the seven-year history of the SAA.

Centre scored on their first shot of the game in the seventh minute for the early lead. With the Colonels on a fast break 15 minutes into the game, junior defender Victoria Palazzetti slowed down another scoring threat and allowed Rhodes to re-gain possession of the ball. The Lynx earned the first penalty corner of the contest after 18 minutes of play. Centre held control of the ball for much of the remaining half, with Rhodes junior goalkeeper Nina Migneco recording a save in the final 15 seconds before halftime.

In the 44th minute, Rhodes defender Daryl Perry recorded a defensive save to keep Rhodes within one goal of the Colonels. In the 49th minute, Sam Robe received a green card for the Lynx, who ultimately scored while playing a man down. Leading goal scorer Hailey Mules came up big for the Lynx. She received the ball from the Lynx defense in Rhodes' defensive third and dribbled up the field and into the circle to get a penalty corner for the Lynx. Rhodes defender Meghan Harmon capitalized on their first corner of the second half. Mules sent Harmon the ball who entered it into the circle and pounded a line drive to the boards to tie the game. That play was an SAA record-tying assist for Mules who now has 15 assists on the season. 

Freshman Hannah Luckes received a green card in the 60th minute but again Rhodes' defense held strong on a Centre corner as Migneco recorded another save. Rhodes couldn't convert a goal after Centre received a green card, despite the Lynx earning four penalty corners in the final four minutes of regulation. 

In overtime, with each team playing with six field players and a goalie, each team had a fast break opportunity, but both were denied as each goalkeeper laid out to keep their team's hope of a championship alive. Migneco made another diving save midway through the first overtime on a one-vs-one situation as well as yet another save on a corner in the 78th minute.

During the second overtime, the Lynx defense continued to remain strong, as Centre totaled seven corner opportunities in the final 10 minutes of the game. Centre earned one in the 83rd minute and thought they had scored and won the game, as the team piled onto the field in celebration, but Rhodes players stood firm as the officials talked over the play. A Colonel was ruled to have hit the ball with her foot before playing the ball into the circle, resulting in a foul and negating the shot. Mules attempted to win the game in the 84th minute, but Centre goalkeeper Kristen Mulcahy made a sliding save. With Centre trying to clear the ball with four minutes left, Perry's stick became entangled with Savannah Elpers. Perry received a green card and Elpers a yellow card. In the final three minutes of the game, Centre failed on each of their five corners as Migneco recorded four saves.

After double overtime, field hockey moves to best of five in one-vs-one's. Each player has eight seconds to score. Centre went first with Sarah Biggs scoring on Migneco, however Mules immediately tied it up. Centre's Olivia Carter was denied by Migneco before Perry hit the boards to give the Lynx a 2-1 advantage. Migneco tripped up Caroline Brotzge and had to face Brotzge on a penalty stroke. Migneco made the save, but Brotzge was given a second chance by the officials, and again Migneco denied the Colonel to bring up Harmon for the Lynx. Harmon's first attempt was saved but the defender ran out of time on her second shot attempt, as did Centre's next competitor Emily Schank. Still leading 2-1, senior Jillian Christensen scored to win the tournament for the Lynx. 

After the game, Jillian Christensen, Meghan Harmon, Nina Migneco and Daryl Perry were named to the All-Tournament team, while Migneco was named Tournament MVP for her outstanding performance, tallying 13 saves in the game. 

The win moves the Lynx to 12-3 on the season. Rhodes will await an NCAA press release, set to be announced at 10:30 p.m. ET on NCAA.com to see if the Lynx have earned a Pool B bid into the 2018 NCAA Field Hockey Tournament.