SAN MARCOS, Calif.— In a spirited season opener in front of nearly 400 fans at the CSUSM Multipurpose Field, the No. 17 Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team held off a late Whittier comeback to defeat the Poets 3-2 on a golden goal in the second overtime.

After holding Whittier without a shot on goal through the first 82 minutes, the Poets broke through twice in the final eight minutes to knot the score at two before freshman Ashley Barber quickly put an end to things in the second overtime with her first collegiate goal.

Cal State San Marcos controlled the game for the majority of the match, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute after Nicole Luna played a long ball from just short of midfield that Jacqueline Lara buried in the back of the net from the left side.

By halftime, the Cougars had outshot the Poets 11-1, including a five-zero edge in shots on goal, but we're unable to add an additional goal despite their ability to keep the ball on the Whittier half for most of the period.

After  a fun halftime featuring several exhibitions by the local Carlsbad Wave club programs, the tables turned slightly at the start of the second half when forward Kelly Skvarna quickly picked up a pair of yellow cards within the first minute and change, giving the Poets an extra player advantage.

Nonetheless, the Cougars added a second goal on a brilliant deep shot by Paulina Good from about 35-40 yards out. With the keeper playing slightly forward, Good dropped in a shot just above the goalkeeper's outstretched arm and just below the crossbar to give CSUSM a 2-0 lead.

Playing a little more conservatively with a two-goal lead and a man down, the Cougars looked to be on their way to a clean victory until Whittier forward Madison Shipherd dribbled through the box and ripped  a shot from the PK spot into the back of the net in the 83^nd minute, cutting the deficit to one.  With a hair over three minutes remaining, Shipherd stunned the crowd with a game-tying goal by deflecting a free kick enough to sneak by goalkeeper Kimi Mendenhall.

The Cougars wasted no time looking to end the game in overtime, rattling off five shots in the first 10 minute period, including two that were on net and saved by goalkeeper Shanna Falch, who entered in the second half after an injury to starting goalkeeper Alexi Cruz.

However, it was not until 18 seconds into the second overtime when the Cougars would finally break through, when midfielder Amy Young flicked a ball with her head to Barber, who ran onto the ball and took a one-time shot and placed in the bottom left corner of the net to end the game.

In all, the Cougars outshot the Poets 26-5, and held a 12-2 advantage in shots on goal. CSUSM improves to 1-0 with the victory, while Whittier falls to 0-1. The Cougars play next on Saturday, September 7 against Soka University in Aliso Viejo. CSUSM's next home game is Tuesday, September 24 at 4:00pm against Concordia (Calif.).