The host Lady Falcons (7-6, 4-3 AMC), who entered the contest on a four-match winning streak, got on the scoreboard first in the 27th minute when Katie Christensen scored from five yards out off an assist from Lauren Acker as Notre Dame took a 1-0 lead.

The score remained that way until early in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Hughes (left) headed in a corner kick from senior midfielder Erin Miller to knot the score at 1-1. The goal was the first of the season for Hughes and the 10th of her career, while Miller notched her team-leading third assist of the season and the 14th of her career as she moved into a tie for tenth place on the program’s career assists list.

The match appeared like it might be headed to overtime - a scenario all to familiar for the Lady Cougars (7-5-1, 5-3 AMC) who have played a school record five overtime matches this season including three straight entering Tuesday’s match. However, Hughes helped MVNU avoid another overtime contest when she headed in a free kick from sophomore defender Kelci Rhodes to give the Lady Cougars a 2-1 lead with three minutes remaining in the match. The assist was Rhodes’ second of the season.

From there, MVNU was able to hold the Lady Falcons at bay as the Lady Cougars posted a key conference victory and also recorded the team’s first win of the year in which they did not shut out their opponent. MVNU held a 13-11 edge in total shots and a 10-6 lead in shots on goal with corner kicks knotted at 2-2. Junior goalkeeper Jenessa Loewen stopped five shots for the Lady Cougars, while Emilie Lamarch posted eight saves for Notre Dame.

“I was very pleased with the adjustments that our players made in the second half after being down by a goal at halftime,” said MVNU coach Daniel Seiffert. “After not playing all that well in the first half, we came out and controlled the midfield and created a lot of opportunities in the second half. Everyone knew how important this match was for us and the seniors really stepped up and took ownership at halftime.”

“Mara obviously single-handedly took over and decided that we were not going to lose,” Seiffert added. “The game-winner was a great header into the back corner after the ball bounced once, and her other header came off a beautiful ball from Erin that Mara headed over the keeper.”

“I am very happy with all the girls’ performances today,” Seiffert continued. “All 24 players contributed. Our back line was solid aside from the one breakdown in the first half. I can’t stress enough how pleased I am with the heart that the players showed in the second half to come back.”

The Lady Cougars will return to action on Saturday when the team will travel to Daemen (N.Y.) College for another AMC match that will kick off at 2:00 p.m.