HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – It took three games, but Emilie Kupsov finally broke through.
 
Longwood's leading shot-taker this season, Kupsov scored the first goal of her sophomore season in dramatic fashion, juking Marshall goalkeeper Megan Bonnelli and finding the back of the net in double-overtime to send Longwood to a 2-1 road win over the Thundering Herd Sunday afternoon at Hoops Family Field.
 
Kupsov's goal completed a come-from-behind effort from the Lancers (2-1-0), who overcame a 1-0 second-half deficit and forced overtime thanks to freshman Emily Mothersbaugh's 73rd-minute equalizer.
 
Mothersbaugh's goal was the first of her collegiate career and sparked a late-game surge that saw Longwood hold the Herd (0-3-0) to just two shots on goal the rest of the way. Senior goalkeeper Maria Kirby dispatched both of those before Kupsov stuck in the game-winner 6:26 into the second overtime period.
 
"It was well-deserved," said senior captain Janese Quick, who played 97 minutes in the midfield in the win. "It felt like all of our hard work from day one of the preseason was on display. We kept pounding at their defense, so when it all paid off it was just a feeling of relief."
 
Longwood outshot Marshall 18-13 and put 11 of those on goal, a combined six of which were from Kupsov and Mothersbaugh.
 
However, despite the lopsided shot differential, Marshall was the first to get on the board, taking a 1-0 lead when Herd freshman Mary Lawman deflected a pass through traffic and past Kirby into Longwood's net.
 
That goal marked the first time since Sept. 13 and Sept. 18 that Kirby allowed goals in back-to-back games, but it would be all Marshall could muster against the All-Big South honorable mention keeper. Of the Herd's final nine shots, Kirby saved three and Longwood's defense blocked five.
 
"We showed true grit," said Kirby, who blocked five shots and whose defense blocked five more. "Our defense stayed composed, and our offense came through when we needed them to. It was a true team effort."
 
Longwood's' 11 shots on goal are the team's most since unloading 20 in a 5-0 win against Gardner-Webb on Sept. 24, 2016, and the team's most on the road since sending 15 in a 3-0 win at VMI on Sept. 8, 2015. Through three games, the typically defensive-minded Lancers have outshot their opponents 48-22 overall and 23-11 on goal.
 
"One of the four pillars of our program is grit, and we showed every bit of it today," said Longwood head coach Todd Dyer, who has the Lancers off to a 2-1 start for the third time in the past six seasons.
 
"To come back from a goal down to win in overtime on the road shows a lot of character from this group. Marshall was very direct and kept our back line under steady pressure, but we dealt with it fairly well. Again, I liked the tempo and pressure we put on them, and it's something we will continue to build on. Hopefully this is one of many for Kup this year, and a big congrats to Mother on her first collegiate goal."
 
The Lancers now have four days to prep for a two-game homestand, which begins this Wednesday, Aug. 31, against American at the Longwood Athletics Complex. Former Big South foe VMI will then make the trip to Farmville for a Sept. 2 matchup, which precedes Longwood's showdown against ACC foe Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., on Sept. 4.
 
#GoWood