HATTIESBURG, Miss. – It sounds like a broken record, but Autumn Woodard provided some more magic on the soccer pitch.
 
The sophomore striker netted two goals on Friday afternoon, the last one being a golden goal in overtime, which handed Louisiana Tech a 2-1 victory over Southern Miss at the USM Soccer Complex.
 
Her seventh game-winning goal of the season, another program record, was extra special as it gave LA Tech (13-4-2, 5-4-1 C-USA) three points to bring its league total to 16 which is enough to qualify the team for the Conference USA Tournament for a sixth straight year.
 
"Southern Miss is a very good team and caused us so many problems, but we managed to find a way to stay in the game and keep our postseason hopes alive," said head coach Kevin Sherry.  "We needed a little luck today, but I think we deserved some after having to endure a lot of hardships this year, starting with the tornado that destroyed our field, having to practice and play at several different places, having injuries to key players and more.
 
"I am in awe of how this team has come together and persevered through such huge hardship.  We came up against so many walls, but we didn't give up.  We figured out how to get over each wall as a team."
 
The Lady Techsters had a tough time defending Southern Miss (7-10-1, 2-7-1 C-USA), especially in the first half.  The Golden Eagles tallied 14 shot attempts through the first 45 minutes of action, four of which required saving by Carlotta Cartelli.
 
The match was scoreless at halftime and some adjustments paid off for LA Tech.  The team continued to try to connect with the speedy Woodard on the run and they were finally able to do so in the 76th minute.
 
It all started when Jaelyn Peeples intercepted the ball and then passed it off to fellow midfielder Stella Li who sent a long ball into the attacking third.  Woodard timed her run and was able to beat the opposing keeper on the 1v1 to the far post.     
 
Despite being mathematically eliminated from postseason play, USM did not go down without a fight. 
 
After a pair of corner kicks, the Golden Eagles managed to get the ball into the corner and send a cross into traffic at the top of the six.  The ball found its way to Hailey Pohevitz who possessed it, took a turn and scored from close range to tie it up at 1-1 in the 84th minute.   
 
The match would go into overtime, something the Lady Techsters had done four times already this season.  Woodard had a couple of misfired shot attempts early in the first OT period, but the forward did not miss on her third try.
 
It came in the 96th minute when Quinn Parks dumped the ball off to Peeples who sent another long ball up the right flank.  Woodard turned on the jets to track down the ball and with two defenders on her, she sent a right-footed rocket at goal that the keeper got her finger tips on, but the ball found the back of the net.
 
Southern Miss ended up with a 21-8 shot advantage and a 4-2 corner kick advantage.  Seven of the 11 starters for LA Tech played the full match, Cartelli being one of them in net where she registered six saves in the win.
 
For Woodard, the 17 goals is now the second most scored in a single season in C-USA history.  Her 39 points scored is tied for the second most in C-USA history. 
 
LA Tech will now await the conclusion of Friday's conference matches to see what seed they will earn and who they will play in the C-USA Tournament Quarterfinals which get underway on Wednesday, Nov. 6 in Denton, Texas.
 
For all the latest in LA Tech Soccer, follow them on Twitter (@LATechSOC), Instagram (@LATechSOC) and Facebook (LATechSoccer) or visit the official website at LATechSports.com.