GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - After the match went into the final minute of the second overtime period with a 1-1 score, Anderson University women's soccer senior Emily Cowan scored AU's golden goal with just under 15 seconds remaining to propel to the Trojans to a 2-1 victory over South Atlantic Conference rival Tusculum, Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.

With the victory, the Black and Gold have captured back-to-back league matches and improve to 7-1 on the season with a 3-1 mark in conference play. The Pioneers, who have won their last three matches over the Trojans in the all-time series, drop to 3-5-1 overall and continue to seek their first SAC win and move to 0-3-1 in the league.

"We showed great character to battle through this challenge," Anderson head coach Ciaran Traquair said. "It wasn't our best performance, but Tusculum is a hard place to get anything. This group showed real courage and when it came down to it, they provided a bit of quality to get the golden goal."

Anderson struck first in the contest, as senior midfielder Mariana Poveda fired a shot from the top of the TC 18-yard box. The shot knocked off the crossbar and into the back of the net for Poveda's first goal of the season and second of her AU career. The goal would be the first half's only score, as the Trojans entered the halftime break with a goal advantage.

The AU lead would be short-lived in the second half, as Pioneer Taylor Lewis grabbed a pass from teammate Gabrielle Whitt and chipped in her fifth goal of the season to even the score at 1-1 in the 47th minute. Lewis' shot went to the far post after Whitt played a through ball past the Anderson backline.

The Trojans attempted seven shots for the second half, but were unable to find a game-winner before the end of regulation. With the score deadlocked at 1-1 at the end of the first 90 minutes, Anderson moved into its first overtime match this season and first since Sept. 24, 2014.

A golden goal was not found in the first overtime period, as both squads tallied one shot for the opening 10 minutes. In the second overtime period, Anderson tallied both shots of the final 10 minutes, including Cowan's last-minute heroics. Cowan collected a pass from junior Idoia Agirre and fired a shot from just inside the Tusculum box and found the right corner for her first game-winning goal of her collegiate career. Joining Poveda, Cowan also notched her first goal of the season.

Freshman goalkeeper Abby Helm earned her seventh victory of the season, as she collected four saves in the win. Helm's afternoon was highlighted by a save on a Kelli McCalla penalty kick in the ninth minute afternoon Anderson was called for a handball inside its own box. On the opposite end, TC goalkeeper Miriah Martin tallied seven saves.

"We struggled at times, but deserved it in the end," Traquair said. "I'm delighted for Mariana and Emily."

Anderson concludes its four-match road swing on Wednesday when it jumps back into its nonconference schedule at Limestone. Kick-off from Gaffney is scheduled for 5 p.m.