WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Senior Alexis Miller (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) tallied the game-winning goal to propel No. 17 Washington & Jefferson College to a dramatic 3-2 shootout victory over Wittenberg University Friday night at Cameron Stadium. 

After a scoreless opening quarter, W&J freshman Lindsey Diggan (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin) scored off a rebound in the 26th minute to give W&J a 1-0 lead. The Tigers answered just before halftime, as the visitors knotted the score at 1-1 with just a little more than five seconds left on the clock. 

Early in the third quarter, Diggan found the back of the cage once more. Diggan gained possession off a play into the circle by sophomore Ashley Kunkle (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) before finishing the goal in the 37th minute. 

Like they did earlier in the game, Wittenberg found a way to respond, tying the game in the early stages of the fourth quarter. The Tigers evened the scoreboard at 2-2 with an unassisted tally in the 48th minute. Neither team could manage much of an offensive opportunity over the final 12-plus minutes of regulation and the game went to overtime. 

Wittenberg controlled the momentum in the first overtime, as the Tigers out-shot the Presidents by a 3-0 margin. W&J junior goalkeeper Rena Israel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) made two saves in the final 10 seconds of the first extra session to force a second overtime. 

The field seemed to flip in the second overtime, as it was the Presidents that forced the issue offensively. W&J gained three penalty corner chances but could not manage a game-winning score. After 80 minutes of play, which included 20 minutes of overtime sessions, the game went to a best-of-five shootout format. 

Both goalies were up to the challenge in the shootout, as Israel and Emma Hurguy turned away the first two attempts from the opposition. Wittenberg broke the ice with their third attempt, as Veronica Carrow collected a rebound and finished to give Wittenberg a 1-0 advantage. Kunkle used a nifty move to beat Hurguy and even the shootout score at 1-1 in the fourth round. 

In round five, Israel made another stop to give Miller the chance to secure the hard-fought victory. Miller raced in and made a move to her left before whipping the ball into the back of the cage. 

Both teams recorded 14 shots and Wittenberg held an 8-to-7 edge in penalty corner opportunities. Israel finished with seven saves in 80 minutes of work to claim the victory in goal. 

W&J travels to Shenandoah University for a non-conference clash on Sunday, Sept. 1. Start time is scheduled for 1 p.m.