CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Lady Railsplitters went toe-to-toe with No. 3 Columbus State, but the Cougars scored in the 100th minute to claim the Southeast Region title and end Lincoln Memorial's Cinderella run on Friday evening at the Lee University Soccer Field. 
 
After earning its way into the region championship match for the second time in program history with a pair of 5-3 shootout victories last weekend, Lincoln Memorial (14-5-2) rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to force its third straight overtime match, this time with a trip to the national quarterfinals on the line. 
 
The Lady Railsplitters were poised to play their third consecutive double-overtime match until Southeast Region Player of the Year Olivia Jarrell recovered a loose ball in the box and headed home the game-winner with 49 seconds left in overtime to claim the region trophy for Columbus State (18-0-2). 
 
Jarrell's overtime winner brings one of the most successful seasons in the history of the LMU women's soccer program to an end. 
 
The Lady Railsplitters, who were picked to finished ninth in the preseason South Atlantic Conference poll, ended an 11-year NCAA tournament drought by winning the program's second South Atlantic Conference tournament championship and first since 2007. LMU was making only its second appearance in the region championship match in program history and finished with their most wins since 2007 as well. The 15 wins are the third-most by the Lady Railsplitters this century. 
 
After a sustained buildup to start the match, a cross inside the box from Riley Clark sprung Kimmy May free in the 27th minute to give Columbus State the early 1-0 lead. 
 
However, the Lady Railsplitters responded just five minutes later when Daisy Drake sent a long pass down the seam for Itzel Ballesteros, who beat All-Southeast Region first team goalie Bria Riancho to tie the match. 
 
The score remained 1-1 at the half despite Columbus State accounting for a 9-4 edge in shots and a 7-1 advantage in corner-kick attempts. 
 
May struck again in the 61st minute off a pass from Jarrell to put the Cougars back in front 2-1, but Ballesteros and Jessica Cravero combined to draw the match back level in the 69th minute, as Ballesteros rebounded Cravero's deflected shot to score her second goal of the match. 
 
The Lady Railsplitters had several chances to steal the win late, as a header from Courtney Boyd off a corner kick went just over the crossbar. 
 
Prior to Jarrell's winner and less than three minutes into overtime, Maria Hernandez ripped a shot from just outside of the box that was barely saved by Riancho.
 
Jarrell's winner came off Columbus State's one and only shot in the overtime. 
 
The Cougars outshot the Lady Railsplitters 22-9, including a 13-3 edge in shots on goals. Ann-Marie O'Connell fell one shy of matching her season-high mark with eight saves, while the LMU defense also came through with a pair of team saves. 
 
Riancho had just one save, but it was arguably the most significant of the match on Hernandez's overtime strike. 
 
Columbus State will face the winner of the Mississippi College / Lee match in the national quarterfinals on Sunday. 
 
Quick Hits 
 
- Columbus State handed Lincoln Memorial its first loss since the Lady Railsplitters suffered an overtime setback against Tusculum on October 17. 
 
- The Cougars conceded multiple goals for just the fourth time this season. 
 
- Ballesteros ends the season with 14 goals and 11 assists, while Cravero completes her freshman campaign with 19 goals and five assists.