MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — With 12 minutes remaining, the match was neck-and-neck and knotted at 1-all.
 
Then, it all changed.
 
Itzel Ballesteros put one home in the 79th minute to take the lead, and then Jessica Cravero netted her second goal of the night in impressive fashion.
 
The reigning SAC Freshman of the Year took an assist from Theoni Zervas, bicycling it in for what proved to be the game-winning goal as the No. 14-ranked Lincoln Memorial University women's soccer team ran away with a 3-2 victory over Georgia College Friday night in Milledgeville, Ga.
 
"We showed so much character tonight to bounce back from a goal down and get the win," LMU head coach Sean Fraser said. "There were spells in the game where we were excellent, and then spells where we could've done better but that's the evolution of a team.
 
"As we play games, we will continue to correct our play and grow. I'm happy for our players! We are still so young, but a game like this allows us to talk about some key concepts within the game and ultimately being a top-level team."
 
Not only was LMU (3-0) down a score following Cassie Balzano's score via Kia Jie Jacobs in the 21st minute to put Georgia College (0-3) ahead, but it had to battle through over an hour lightning delay.
 
Cravero, who now has a team-high five goals on the season, didn't let the momentum tilt into the intermission, though, putting the Lady Railsplitters in the perfect position as she tied the score at 1 midway through the 38th minute.
 
Just six minutes into the final half, a lightning strike was detected in the area as it stretched into two 30-minute stoppages. The Lady Railsplitters used the break to regroup and find a way to get it done.
 
LMU threatened the entire time after the delay and out-shot the home Bobcats for the entirety of the match, 13-8. While Georgia College used a penalty kick in the final minute to come back within one, Cravero's filthy bicycle kick was more than enough to put the Lady Railsplitters on top for good and stay undefeated.
 
Up Next: LMU will finish off the Bobcat Shootout versus West Georgia (2-1), who defeated Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 3-2 before the Lady Railsplitters and Bobcats played, at noon Sunday.
 
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms —@LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram — for complete coverage of Lady Railsplitter soccer through the 2019 season.
 
-LMU-