MONTEVALLO, Ala. -- Freshman forward Claire Leasure (Franklin, Tenn.) assisted on the game-tying goal in the 81st minute and later scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to complete an immaculate collegiate debut and lead the Lady Railsplitters (1-0) to a thrilling 4-3 win over West Alabama in Lincoln Memorial's 2015 season opener on Friday night in Montevallo, Ala.
 
It was an uphill battle for the Lady Railsplitters from the start as the Tigers jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage following goals from Rianna Gurvitz and Beth Preston before even 10 minutes had ticked away. Gurvitz struck in the fifth minute on an assist from Kirsten Reilly, while Preston scored off of a Haleigh McDuff corner in the eighth minute.
 
Despite a brutal start, Lincoln Memorial responded well to that early adversity and worked its way back into the match.
 
Junior striker Michelle Hunter (Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada) notched the first goal of the 2015 campaign and drew the Lady Railsplitters to within one at the tail end of the 19th minute, arching a shot over the keeper from the right side. With 10 minutes left in the opening frame, senior Maddy Nagy (Viera, Fla.) snuck a deflection off her defender and into the left corner of the net to even the match at 2-2, which is where the score remained through the end of the first half.
 
After 20-plus scoreless minutes to start the second stanza, the Tigers regained the lead on Mia Harvey's 70th minute goal. With their backs against the wall, the Lady Railsplitters responded once more, as senior Olivia Thompson (Melbourne, Fla.) tied it up at 3-3 in the 81st minute off of an assist from Leasure. Regulation ended with the match still locked in a 3-3 stalemate.
 
The first 10-minute overtime period passed without consequence, but Leasure drove home the golden goal - the first of her collegiate career - off of a deflection from the goalie in the 104th minute to spark the Lady Railsplitters' 4-3 come-from-behind victory.
 
Friday night's four-goal outburst was the highest offensive output for the Lady Railsplitters in a season opener since they tallied four goals in a triumph over Young Harris in 2010. LMU improved to 11-2 in season openers in the Helio D'Anna era.
 
Junior keeper Kathryn Lundy (Pinckney, Mich.) picked up the win for the Lady Railsplitters, making four saves. Her counterpart, Issy Foster, made three saves and allowed all four LMU goals in the loss.
 
Lincoln Memorial next faces Montevallo at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 6 in Montevallo, Ala. Live stats will be available at www.LMURailsplitters.com while live updates can be found at the official LMU athletics Twitter page.